THE Philippines has a large population, but with a growing neglect in agriculture. What once were agricultural lands are being developed into industrial areas. The youth are attracted to the idea of the “American Dream” and the Filipino diaspora. In this modern era, does the power of agriculture lie in the engagement of the youth?
“Ang pagtatanim ay hindi biro.” Farming is viewed by many Filipinos as a dying profession. Farmers earn way less than people working in offices. The youth today tend to be materialistic. They aim for quick money. That, while farmers are identified as one of the poor sectors in the country and as a result, the youth assumes that this section isn’t worth looking into.
Agriculture is fundamental for survival. It produces our daily needs, from the food that we eat, fuel that we burn, clothes that we use, which are made from fiber crops such as cotton, wool, silk and other raw materials. Unfortunately, for us Filipinos, our government seems to prioritize other sections of the industry such as the BPO industry. The Philippines now ranks as the “top outsourcing country” and will, in all likelihood, continue to maintain a high position in the Top 10 worldwide outsourcing destinations, as stated in a post by Asean Briefing in 2017.
As we see an increase in the number of BPO companies, we also observe a decrease in the government’s support for our farmers. Take, for instance, the rice tariffication law. The act allows the entry of competition from other countries, leaving our poor farmers with absolutely nothing but misery the unrecognized efforts from their hard labour noting that no advanced technology was used. According to an article by PhilStar Global, there are no good infrastructure, such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, drying facilities and milling centers that are being developed by the government.
Technological advancement is essential for development and the Philippine agricultural sector lags far behind when it comes to agricultural technology. According to an article from PhilStar Global, farming practices in the Philippines are outdated, considering that the average age of Filipino farmers is around 57-59 years old. Majority of the farmers cling to traditional practices with reluctance to use modern technology, making labor intensive and unsustainable.
If we can encourage the youth to look towards this sector of the industry where they may apply their knowledge brought about globalization, modernity and the ability to easily understand technology, rest assured that there will be further progress in the future.
If support from the government is present by enhancing the infrastructure and investing more in advance technologies that can help in the process of agriculture, there is a high chance that the youth would immerse themselves and help boost this section of the economy. (By Trishia Uy and Jacob Pospia, BA Political Science, University of San Carlos)