An expert raised concerns about the growing trend of 'rescue buys' in Philippine agriculture, warning that such initiatives may harm farmers in the long run. Henry, chief executive officer and co-founder of BusinessWorld reported, quoting Agro-DigitalPH CEO Henry as saying that the practice often leads to purchases below production cost.
According to the report, the expert stressed that labeling purchases as 'rescue buys' creates a perception that farmers' produce can be bought for less than what was spent to grow it. This undermines the true value of agricultural labor and investment, and may discourage farmers from improving productivity.
The initiative, while intended to help farmers sell excess stock quickly, could instead reinforce a cycle of low prices that hurts the agricultural sector nationwide. The expert called for a more sustainable approach that ensures farmers receive fair compensation for their produce.