By Cyrus A. Natividad

Centralian Agriculturist Timothy Arandela points out an environmental issue in one of his outreach projects.

Timothy “Tim” Doromal Arandela (CPU Agriculture Batch 1987) served as guest in Looking Forward (CPUTV Public Affairs Program) on April 25, 2023, Tuesday. What he had shared were nuggets of wisdom and update on economic developments in the country.

Arandela is a Centralian agriculturist and businessman whose expertise in the coffee industry gave him a stint as Coffee Coordinator in the Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office. He is currently a Member of the Agriculture Committee under the Israel Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, representing Kabash Covenanted Community Corporation (NGO).

One of the topics discussed in Looking Forward focused on food production; what ails the farmers in sustainable development? Arandela said that “the importation of rice and other commodities has grave consequence to farmers–who sell their farm produce, (rice for example) at a very low price.” Looking back to the Philippines as a great agricultural country and rice producer in Southeast Asia, he pointed out the conversion of arable lands into large residential estates.

He added that, “Without options to sustain rice production- due to increasing prices of seeds, fertilizers and farm implements, the farmers accommodate buyers of land for residential conversion in order to sustain the family and children to school. A few parcels of land are left for very little production of rice, vegetables and other crops. In effect, food production situation in the provinces results to alternative business ventures which, more often are needed to fill in the need for consumption and income.” Without this, he said, “the economic situation dwindles down to poverty.”

Asked about how the importation can help the local economy, Arandela commented that “the importation is not a stop gap measure – to end the situation. He encouraged the agriculture sector to continue on technical possibilities to support food production and sustainability programs of the government.

As a Centralian with a mission, Arandela works with the CPU Alumni Association with its President, Atty. Jeremy Bionat – in formulating programs and projects in agriculture and forestry.