Mottos

FROM the 1950s up to the early 1980s, when leftist ideas were at the peak of influence in local intellectual discourse, the development motto adopted for our agricultural sector was "land to the tiller." This meant the implementation of a land reform program that would distribute large tracts owned by hacienderos — wealthy landlords — and their families to the actual farmers.

It was argued that land ownership would encourage tillers to work harder to increase productivity as they would be able to capture all the benefits. They would no longer be compelled to share with landlords by virtue of being the landowner.