What are the problems encountered by Philippine farmers?

Farmers in Kerala are passing through serious economic hardships, as they are unable to sell their various farm produces at reasonable costs. Middlemen strongly control and dictate the market of agricultural produces. A producer farmer does not get his share of the selling cost of the produce. Very often he is forced to make distress sale. These produces are invariably sold at very high cost and the middlemen are pocketing a large share. The farmers are denied opportunity to intervene in the market and do not have the bargaining power. The production of various produces � food grains, vegetables, cash crops in Kerala are dwindling alarmingly. The purchasing capacity of the farmer is fast declining which is indeed a threat to the livelihood security of large section of farmers....

Many of the government sponsored schemes and programmes implemented so far have not redressed the farmers� grievances effectively. These schemes have failed to find out worthwhile solutions to the farmers� problems. Presently, the Government does not have a solution to the farmers� problems. Limited financial resources are preventing the Government from attempting solution finding exercises.