If the government is serious about development, some say, agro-industry is much more promising than small-scale farming.

CNN: INSIDE STORY: PHILIPPINES

Agricultural-product disparagement statutes, which were dreamt up by a congressman after alarms over the use of Alar, an agro-chemical, damaged his apple business in 1989, shield farmers from criticism in a way no other industry can claim.

ECONOMIST: Food-disparagement laws