THE youth are encouraged to invest in agribusiness to promote and boost the agriculture sector in the country, an agricultural manufacturers’ association leader said.
Mindanao Agricultural Machinery Industry Association president Pedro Lim said the youth has important role to play in securing the next generation of agricultural entrepreneurs who will aid in maintaining the country’s food supply.
Lim said in an interview on Thursday, November 29, 2018, during the 1st Manufacturer’s Forum at the Apo View Hotel in Davao City that most of the youths now do not find agriculture jobs as enticing because they don’t give high-income opportunities.
“What we are now trying to do is make the agricultural industry a profitable one,” Lim said, adding that creating seminars and discussions promoting the benefits of venturing into agriculture can be a way to address such issue in enticing the youth.
“Kay di man nato mapilit ang bata na mag agriculture og kurso kung dili siya ganahan ug kung dili pud niya makita ang benefits after niya mueskwela ug agri (Because we cannot force the youth to take a degree in agriculture if he/she does not like it, and if he/she does not see the benefits after studying agriculture),” Lim said.
Meanwhile, in terms of innovative agricultural research, the youth can play an important role in continuing the implementations done and prepared by different agricultural research institutions like the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).
Lim said even the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) can gear into venturing to agricultural processing.
Lim, who is also the Tesda chairman, added youth who may not have the opportunity to study a four-degree agricultural course can opt to choose in finishing a Tesda course instead.
Lim said he is thinking of incorporating agricultural manufacturing in Tesda’s curriculum.