Farmers and Life
(A Pastoral Statement on the Occasions
of the CBCP-NASSA and the Sustainable Agriculture Network’s
3 rd Farmers’ Day on May 15, 2004)
Dear Beloved People of God;
Our Lord Jesus Christ has s great compassion for the poor.
fie became poor so that we might become rich with His graces.
This preferential option for the poor is greatly manifested in
the New Testament. lie asked his disciples to Love one another and
reminded then that "Whatever you do the least of my
brethren, you do it to me.
Today, we commemorate the Third Farmers' Day, a national day
of celebration and homage of the Philippine Catholic Church to
our Filipino fare ers. This day is also the feast of St. Isidore
of Labrador , the patron saint of the farmers.
The Filipino farmers who are predominantly poor are the most
oppressed and marginalized sector in Philippine society, They
work hard all day to provide us with food, The present Philippine
situation does not reflect their sacrifices for the country's
economy. They still suffer froth feudalism, landlessness, unfair
trade practices; usury, and unsafe modern agricultural practices.
On this Occasion, Let us remind all the faithful to fervently
promote reconciliation and solidarity through societal healing.
Let us uphold ,justice and peace above everything and concentrate
on empowering the poor thru equal distribution of wealth and
opportunities in our land.
This year's celebration is even more significant as the United
Nations (UN) declared 2004 as the international Year of Rice.
The celebration "reflects the importance of rice as primary
food source, and is drawn from an understanding the rice-based
systems are essential for food security, poverty alleviation
and improved livelihoods. ,.
Around the world, more than one billion farmers are involved
in rice production, Most of these farmers live in rural areas
of developing countries, and almost thrcc-fourths of these are
small scale farmers, These farmers share God's productive
activity, by receiving their vacation to
work and till the land. They are the good soil in the Parable
of the Seed who work tirelessly to make the world
a true home for humanity. In the Philippines alone, 2.5
million people are directly involved in rice production, and
this figure dues not include the people involved in post harvest
operations like transporting and marketing the products.
We call on everyone especially the faithful to he vigilant
about the plight of our farmers, We must ensure the use of
productive t,rupcrtyJor the common gnurt, and pcrfurm
our duty to preserve the cirvi un,lent and responsibly use
thcr natural resources which the Lord has endowed to us. Let
us review policies and laws that are anti-poor and oppressive
to our farmers. Let us give life back to them. Let us compassionate
about their current situation, and help them achieve full freedom
and sustainahility. After all their future is also our own.
For the Catholic Bishops' Conterencc of the Philippines :
Fernando R. Capalla, D.D.
Archbishop of Davao
President, CBCP
15 May 2004
Manila
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