Agriculture still least attractive economic sector

The agriculture industry continued to be the least attractive sector in the economy in terms of the average pay it could offer as reflected in the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

For 2019, the average wage rate for agricultural workers increased by only 49.8 index points from its level in 2012. With its purchasing power factored in, however, PSA said the increase was at an average of only 24.6 index points.

A separate document provided by the Department of Labor and Employment showed that when compared to other wages offered in other sectors, agriculture continued to offer lower pay. The average wage for nonagriculture workers as of August 2020 was as much as P537, against agriculture workers whose maximum wage rate was P500.

Agriculture workers cover farmers, farmworkers and fisherfolk. The Department of Agriculture said they comprised about 8 percent of the country’s population with a workforce estimated at 8.3 million.

By region, PSA said the Davao region registered the biggest increase in its wage rate index at 68.9 points, followed by Mimaropa with 65.9 index points. The lowest wage increments were noted in the regions of Central Luzon, Ilocos and Cordillera of between 14.9 and 32.1 index points.

The wage rates even differ for the male and female workers in the sector—a problem that the DA is attempting to resolve with a new loan program meant to exclusively cater to women.

PSA said the wage rate of male workers was pegged at P335 a day on average, while female workers got P304.60 a day.

The report covered farmers working in the country’s four major crops—palay, corn, sugarcane and coconut. Among them, PSA reported that palay farmers and workers were paid the highest compared to their counterparts.

The meager pay in agriculture continued to be a disincentive for current agricultural workers, which could explain why most Filipino farmers were old.

In a separate study by the National Economic and Development Authority, it noted that children of farmers were now gradually leaving the fields to find other job opportunities with better pay and working conditions. INQ