Philippine Coffee Producers: A message for smallholders around the globe in a time of adversity
Amongst the onslaught of troubled media headlines, it would be unadvisable to write anything less than fear – based over the current pandemic. Fear simply sells.
But I, along with many others, believe there is a silver – lining in the chaos; a pause to fully understand the importance of small producers for society and for the sustainability of our environment.
And what better place to start than Baguio City (Benguet Province in the Northern Philippine island of Luzon). This has been a through and through coffee growing environment for over 100 years, producing fine Arabica beans.
Sitting 5,200 ft above sea level, this region experiences low temperatures compared to near by provinces (up to 10 degrees lower) and has ample moisture. It was only a matter of time that reputable producers, such as Kape Umali, claimed their stake.
So how does this rural city in the Cordillera Mountain Range give a lesson to small producers everywhere? It is through their local governments unwavering support for foundational businesses and the strength of their cooperatives.
You see, Baguio city used to be a military base (John Hay Air Station) for the Americans for numerous years, bringing lots of clout. It changed the city to open up to the idea of universities and an increased population as a sort of resort town. Later, this meant opportunity for foreign companies to position themselves there.
Although modern corporations have entered this region, small producers still prevail as a focal point of community.
And even though Baguio is dealing with pollution issues itself, what 3rd world city isn’t? It is a natural by product in a quest for growth.
While innovation and development are needed, the foundational industry is constantly kept alive. It is the enthusiasm of the individual businesses that continues to magnify Baguio as a rural centre of importance.
This sentiment is reinforced in all the turmoil of today; local steps for global longevity economically, socially, and environmentally.
Bringing agribusiness back to the forefront in disconcerting times
Inundated.
This is an accurate descriptor for these trying times and amount of doom and gloom media we are absorbing.
Lets change the record, shall we?
This article is about the opportunity to repurpose agriculture within modern day economies given the evidence of its importance in the midst of a global pandemic.
Sometimes it truly takes a crisis to make a necessary change. It is then, and only then, that we can see the transition we need to make.
It has been apparent that essential and foundational services are to be invested in. In this, the concept of actually creating and manufacturing physical products or commodities is crucial. It has and always will be a significant pillar in a nations economy.
Self sufficiency comes to mind. Agriculture is an industry that is present to establish this.
It is an industry that has been put on the back burner in various developed nations, and one that is often overlooked in terms of investment.
The truth is we have favoured developing the service and blue chip industries – one where people are easily replaced with systems. One where wealth is not spread equitably – in an individual company or in a society.
It is the trend across developing countries – less agribusiness employment through each stage of progress.
But this isn’t a blanket coverall statement; of course there are exceptions in this. Brazil stands as a pioneer in making it at the forefront of their economic make – up. And the government understands the vital need to have future generations take up this trade.
Although North America and Western Europe may not have as favourable of a climate as Latin America, there are ways to extend and transform the industry in their favour.
We now have the foresight – and providing higher paying and more stable employment in agribusiness is a possibility.
We want to hear from you!
What are some possible ways at extending / transforming the agricultural business sector in your country?
How can more of the workforce get into agribusiness in the longterm?
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for next week where we cover the agricultural success of Brazil and its people.
Design and Architecture: For the masses, not just the high classes
When it comes to our architectural surroundings, many questions arise. But perhaps the most pressing one is never asked; why is architecture innately thought to be something solely for the upper – crust?
It is understood that being an architect is a noble profession. This can also be said about people in urban planning. The work they perform transforms landscape. Their is a prestige for what they create.
But the regular folk must be in mind. Imagination and inventiveness is what we crave.
After all, it is the general population that make use of these common spaces.
Spaces that are meant to allow people to dream – to be inspired in our everyday lives.
A famous quote from Adolfo Natalini, late Italian architect, really captures the sentiment of this article:
“if design is merely an inducement to consume, then we must reject design; if architecture is merely the codifying of bourgeois model of ownership and society, then we must reject architecture; if architecture and town planning is merely the formalization of present unjust social divisions, then we must reject town planning and its cities…until all design activities are aimed towards meeting primary needs, until then, design must disappear, we can live without architecture” – Adolfo Natalini
https://www.designboom.com/architecture/adolfo-natalini-radical-architecture-superstudio-dies-01-24-2020/
Many cities around the world succumb to standard push for development without pre – planning for one simplistic area – human engagement.
North American powerhouses pride themselves on the level of building (take Toronto for example). In cities such as these with an enormous housing crisis, uniqueness gets pushed to the wayside. Innovation is no longer.
But the need to be motivated, moved, and fulfilled by the areas around us can longer be subsided.
Architecture was made for people.
First World Problems: Aren’t You Grateful?
We have won the global lottery, haven’t you heard?
If you’re reading this and currently reside in the Western part of the world (wherever that encompasses today), you live on much more than $2 per day. Chances are your standard of living is within the top 10% of the world.
Constantly we are reminded of our fortune. Whether through statistics, heartbreaking images, or trips abroad. The guilt is there.
And while this is needed – a reality check so to speak – areas of the Western world have steadily become impoverished in other ways that weren’t so visible before.
Across North America and Europe, the great majority will have their basic physical necessities met today. To be clothed, sheltered, and fed is the least of our worry.
So why aren’t we content with our lives?
We have the supreme comforts in our everyday life and extra luxuries – 3,000 square foot homes, flat screen TVs, designer clothes, extravagant vacations – the list goes on. But when it comes down to it, this is simply just a facade for what we really crave.
The physical needs are more than met, however, the phycological needs are being pushed to way side; pushed by convenient distractions that are short term.
You see, while the Western society continues to dignify a person based on their accumulation of wealth, we lose focus on what actually fulfills us.
As of recent, our being depends on what we have rather than what we are.
As dire as these points sounds, this individualistic approach has continued to take swipes at our social well being.
We would love to hear from you! What is your opinion on your countries current social atmosphere?
Thank you for reading!
Reblog – Opinion: Closure of Thursday’s is one more blow to the social fabric — Montreal Gazette
Article by ROBERT TITTLER, SPECIAL TO MONTREAL GAZETTE
This week on Inside From An Outsider we find an article that is all too telling of the times. This story, be it a microcosm, signifies what is happening at a much larger scale. Community staples are swiftly being replaced by large developer creations with no real proper integration into the area. Instead, they promote secularism, setting up expensive condos that prove not much rhyme or reason for the social trends of that given region.
It all comes back to social cohesion and this topic will be heavily covered on Inside From An Outsider.
Do you find staples in your city/town/area being replaced with new unfit developments?
What would be some alternatives / insight to give developers when coming into a community?
Thank you for reading!
The replacement of a venue like Thursday’s by condominiums where people sit alone at their keyboards would be particularly ironic.
Opinion: Closure of Thursday’s is one more blow to the social fabric — Montreal Gazette
Re – Blog – If Urban Planning shapes culture, can culture shape Urban Planning? — PLM 2019
Check out this article on urban planning – It is very insightful and shows the potential for more thoughtful thinking when developing / planning our modern day metropolises.
How can urban planners / developers create more engaging cities and surrounding suburban areas?
Thank you for your feedback!
Urban planning -be it through the historical masterplans or the more contemporary strategic planning– is not a neutral. It presents a to-be-implemented vision that favours certain type of constructions and mobilities, thereby affecting residential and commercial patterns. What is more, urban planning is nowadays rarely understood in a short-term context. For instance, the Olympic villages which, by definition […]
If Urban Planning shapes culture, can culture shape Urban Planning? — PLM 2019
What Makes Montreal so Remarkable?
Now, it is understood that by posing this question, individual opinion is at play when coming up with an answer. And it is possible that the response is not always favourable to the point of this article.
Depending on who you ask (especially those from the province of Ontario, Canada), Montreal may just be another crowded metropolis in the world full of expanding concrete jungles. Claims that the inhabitants are not so forgiving in the inability to speak the French language are not fully untrue. However, the motivation behind this stubbornness is commonly misunderstood.
The intention in insisting on using the French language in the city is not to be condescending. It is predominately used as a preservation tool for the language and the culture as a whole. This sentiment can be observed throughout the historic urban centre in an intriguingly unique way.
There is a peculiar method in which the people choose to express what the city is, and what they want it to be: art. Long used as a communication tool, this method seems to exemplify what exactly a dynamic city is. The artistic abilities of the French are without question something magnificent and it was carried over to Montreal at its very core. Whether it be on the road, on a building, or part of the infrastructure itself, there is simply no lack of creativity that is undoubtably French. With this, they display the quench to maintain their roots.
Walk a couple blocks down any major district (Le Plateau, Old Port, and Little Italy to name a few) and it is strikingly obvious to see a city that has various ethnic influences. Like most municipalities, there are various quarters in Montreal that have a large concentration of a certain ethic background. However, a majority of regions exisist where various identities intertwine into a fascinating community of there own.
Former colonies of the French have large populations in Montreal, including Vietnamese, Lebanese, and many West African nations. This makes for a cuisine landscape that is extraordinary among North American cities.
Very notable is the Haitian crowd who have establishments throughout the city that have brought much attention to the small nation. Overall,the African diaspora is overwhelmingly vibrant in this case and greatly celebrated.
From the House of Jazz to the Disco joint called Electric Avenue, this is a city that virtually has any entertainment that comes to ones imagination. Kilometres of roads are shut down every weekend for street festivals. It is the textbook definition of metropolitan, yet so incredibly culturally rich from its French roots. The possibilities are limitless.
And so, through the trials and tribulations to the misconceptions by rest of North Americans, the city of Montreal has long been progressive. Progressive in sustaining ones cultural values, ones religion, while also taking a futuristic approach of evolving to diverse communities.
It is agreed that Montreal have its own set of downfalls. However, it is exemplary in its cultural sophistication and sense of community. It feels much more human and maintains a undeniable pulse when compared to other North American cities.
It has concepts and ideas that are very valuable and needed in our fast past modern day society. Eminently, it shows the ability to dream.
But don’t just simply take our word for it! Here are other raving reviews of Montreal.
And of course if you have the chance to visit, do it.
Tripsavvy
https://www.tripsavvy.com/montreal-travel-guide-1481907
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/may/21/montreal-city-guide-hotels-restaurants-bars-music
CNN
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/montreal-city-for-everyone-canada-travel/index.html
Thank you for reading and subscribe for more.
Markets – The Centre Point of a Community
The quest for economic growth has always had great ramifications throughout history. It seems that there is sometimes some type of social trade off when improving the GDP per capita of a country. And there is no fault in a developing country for going through on this deal. It is a decision made for the livelihood of its people.
How these individual countries evolve is unique, yet their vision is very much set on having a similar modern structure to the North American way. Yet, what is lost in the corporate North American adaptation is the idea of community.
Inside From An Outsider has previously covered ideals brought forward to developing nations. This article instead teaches us what impoverished countries have been practicing for ages – the central area of a goods market and how it strengthens the social fabric of a population.
Food markets, flea markets and every central meeting place in between have been around for centuries and are essential to the idea of civilization.
No matter where in the world, these places show the interdependence of a community to provide for each other in its purest form. The social cohesion is built up on this notion of human interaction and through the exchange of value in a very fundamental way.
Markets draw in the connection of the metropolitan world with the agricultural industry – signifying how the agricultural activities are such a large component of our lives. It is the awareness we need in this era of North Americanism, where many people do not truly know where their food comes from.
An exemplary city for these ideals is Montreal. Yes, this is a North American city. Yet it has such strong European roots that favours the old traditions of food sourcing. Various markets are staples within – with the renowned Jean – Talon and Atwater Market most notable.
Jean – Talon Market in particular gives off a vibrancy that is so appealing. Both a building and open air market, it is so full of life and each little stall seems to tell a story of the local people.
For regions such a Quebec, goods markets are not just simply a place of commerce, but also a place for gathering.
Where super centres and large retailers begin to spread their grasp through globalization, local markets are threatened. This also means our communities are threatened as we look to replace them with some type of prefabricated construct of modern day life we just all seem to accept.
Frequent trips to the market has for years created an interrelation on which our communities are based. Because at the end of the day, the quality of our life is the quality of our relationships – and this includes our simple day to day transactions.
What is you opinion on the status of your current community? Are markets still a present force? Are there central meeting places?
We want to hear from you!
As usual, thank you for reading and don’t forget to subscribe by email down below!
Enhancing Agricultural Education – The Key to Development
This week, Inside From An Outsider features another fellow blogger – The African Academic / Researcher.
Upon discovery of one of their most recent posts on a Farm Data Management course, it can be seen that education is the solution for economic development in emerging nations. The course is offered to various organizations who work with farmers to further their insight on management and consulting activities. Overall, it is aimed at helping the agricultural sector in developing nations further expand investment and establish much more sustainability in the industry.
Below is a link to the article:
What? Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) together with the Pan African Farmers’ Organisation (PAFO) are pleased to call for applications for a new online course: “Farm Data Management, Sharing and Services for Agriculture Development”. This course builds on the content and experience of the GODAN Action online […]
Tailored opportunities: Free online course (with certificate) on Farm Data Management, Sharing and Services for Agriculture Development — The African Academic / Researcher
It is not uncommon to have agricultural activities as a driving force to GDP in up and coming economies. That is exactly why courses such as Farm Data Management are an ideal pathway forward for self sufficiency.
In your opinion, what other courses / resources should be used to help spur agricultural innovation?
We would love to hear from you!
Once again, thank you for reading and stay subscribed by email (available for sign up below) as we cover essential development topics. Next week, we look at the role of micro finance institutions and the controversy around them.
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