THE intensified use of technology in the agriculture sector is eyed as a medium to entice younger Filipinos to take career paths in agriculture.
Rodolfo Estigoy, Philippine Center for Postharvest Development Mechanization (Philmec) chief of applied communication division, said the younger generation can play a bigger role in the problem of aging Filipino farmers in the country.
“Malaki ang kayang gawin ng mga kabataan sa pagimprove pa sa ating agricultural sector sa bansa lalo na malawak pa ang kanilang capacity to think of innovations (The youth has a huge role in improving the country’s agricultural sector because they have a wide capacity to think of innovations),” Estigoy said in an interview on Friday, September 21, 2018.
Estigoy said the youth has a role in participating in the current rice mechanization program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Philmec.
“Kagaya ngayon sa rice mechanization, kung may participation ang youth ay mas makakatulong sila na mag-envision para mas gumawa nang mas magagandang farming techs (For example on rice mechanization, if the youth participates in this then they help envision to create more beautiful farming techology),” Estigoy said.
Estigoy also added there are really good investments in the agricultural sector given with the rich lands the country has. He also said continued education through seminars and agricultural technical assistance must also be pursued in order to enrich new knowledge on improving agricultural technologies.
“Tumatanda na rin ang mga farmers natin, kaya mahalaga na anjan ang kabataan para sa new generation ng agricultural sector (Our farmers are getting old that’s why we need the youth for the new generation of the agricultural sector),” Estigoy said.
Based from DA’s records, presently, the average age of a Filipino famer is 57 years old.