Philippines: Farmers received land but still hungry

Despite FIAN International’s urgent action in April 2014 towards the full implementation of the Agrarian Reform program’s land distribution process in Hacienda Luisita, Philippines -which helped achieve the official installation of 96 percent of farmer beneficiaries by May 2014, a life free of hunger and starvation has only reached a few so far. 

Luisita farmers are once again disappointed by the performance of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Although the department assured to distribute the necessary support services, such as providing seeds, water pumps or farming implements -tresher, tiller, corn sheller, until the end of 2014, farmers are still waiting for the expected provisions, and are unable to feed themselves and their families adequately. 

Due to the lack of promised support and lack of resources, most Luisita farmers feared further indebtedness. As a result, beneficiaries re-entered into informal leasing contracts for small annual loans with “ariendadors” –middlemen/middle-women who are politically and economically influential – for a period of two to three years, and even borrowed them money. 

Only 20 percent of the Luisita farmer beneficiaries did not go back into the “ariendo system”after the land distribution and started to cultivate their own choice of vegetables and “palay” (rice). Unlike the preferred sugarcane production of the “ariendadors” which can only be harvested once a year, “palay” can do so up to four times annually. Moreover, farmers could generate a yearly income of 120,000 pesos (about US$ 2,700) instead of the 7,000 pesos (about US$ 160) the “ariendadors” are paying as land rent.

An initiative of Save Agrarian Reform Alliance and Focus on the Global South documented the current situation of the farmer beneficiaries in Hacienda Luisita and shares their stories of hope and resistance. 

Read more information about the root causes, processes and struggles of the people in Hacienda Luisita.