The Senator, noting the top ranking given to the Philippines in the Global Climate Risk index, said: “Agro-ecology is indeed very timely as an alternative to conventional farming, taking into consideration that the country now experiences extreme weather disturbances such as stronger typhoons, droughts, El Niño, La Niña and other environmental risks.”
She made the remarks at a seminar conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
The Philippines was followed by Cambodia and India in the ranking of countries most affected by climate change. The Global Climate Risk index is compiled by Germanwatch e.V., a nonprofit dedicated to North-South issues.
The Philippines’ top ranking was influenced by the massive damage brought by typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) which left more than 5,000 dead and at least P30.6 billion in property damage according to government disaster agencies.
Senator Villar also cited the Food and Agriculture Organization, which identifies the lowering of the use of inputs like water and chemicals as the main challenge facing world farming today.
According to the United Nations, there is a need to increase food production by over 60 percent to meet the expected demand from a population of over nine billion in 2050.
Senator Villar said that Philippine agricultural officials as well as the community of farmers must assess the benefits of new farming methods and promote their adoption in place of traditional farming.