This was one of the questions that the Philippine Secretary of Agriculture, Arthur C. Yap raised to 300 agriculture experts attending the 6th Asian Society of Agricultural Economists (ASAE) International Conference, Thursday in Manila.

Philippines' DA Secretary Arthur Yap

In the same note, SEARCA Director, Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan and ASAE President, Dr. Jamalludin Bin Sulaiman, emphasized that agriculture must be given priority, as this sector is crucial to birthing another economic renaissance in the coming decades.

On the recent issue of food price crisis, Dr. Balisacan underscored the importance of agriculture as still the basic key to lifting the rural poor out of poverty and to fueling economic growth.

In need of a new miracle to usher economic renaissance, Dr. Sulaiman said that governments need to treat agriculture not as a savior during economic crisis only, but also as a pillar that must be given priority.

Drs. Yang Boo Choe, Jamalludin Bin Sulaiman and
Arsenio Balisacan

This year’s theme of the ASAE international conference is on The Asian Economic Renaissance: What is in It for Agriculture?

Launched in 1991, ASAE is an association of agricultural economists and other professionals with special interest on agricultural economic issues and affairs. Every three years, it conducts the ASAE International Conference participated in by agricultural economists, development practitioners, policymakers, academicians, researchers, and students from all over the world.