Statement of the Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP) on the Global Day of the Landless

On this Global Day of the Landless, we stand in solidarity with millions of farmers, agricultural workers, indigenous peoples, and rural communities in the Philippines and across the world who continue to struggle for their fundamental right to land. Land is life—it is the foundation of food production, rural livelihoods, and national food security. Yet, in our own country, generations of farmers remain landless, trapped in poverty, and subjected to land grabbing, displacement, and corporate exploitation.

Decades after the enactment of government agrarian reform programs, vast tracts of land remain concentrated in the hands of a few landlords, agribusiness corporations, and real estate developers. Farmers who cultivate the land to feed the nation still face unjust evictions, harassment, and even violence when asserting their rights. As large-scale plantations, mining, and infrastructure projects continue to expand, small farmers and indigenous communities are driven away from their ancestral lands and productive farms, further worsening hunger and food insecurity.  The shift to renewable energy, such as solar and wind farms which demands vast tracts of land and affects local livelihoods, while  essential for combating climate change has also contributed to landlessness and has had significant socio-economic and environmental impacts on communities.

The successive typhoons and climate disasters that ravage our country highlight the urgent need for genuine land reform and food sovereignty. Landless farmers are the most vulnerable to these crises, unable to rebuild their livelihoods due to insecure land tenure and lack of government support. Meanwhile, corporate-controlled agriculture prioritizes profit over the welfare of food producers, leading to skyrocketing food prices and worsening hunger among our people.

We reaffirm our call for genuine agrarian reform—one that truly redistributes land to those who till it and ensures adequate support for sustainable, farmer-led food production. We demand an end to land grabbing, land conversion, and policies that prioritize the interests of big landlords and corporations over the rights of small food producers.

On this day, we honor the courage and resilience of farmers who continue to fight for their right to land. We demand that  the government  recognize their vital role in ensuring food security and rural development. We call on all sectors to stand with landless farmers and push for systemic change that upholds land justice, food sovereignty, and the dignity of those who feed the nation.

Land to the Tillers!

Food for the People!

Stop Land Grabbing!

Defend Farmers' Rights!