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Sunday, August 25, 2024 Vol. 19 No. 313
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GENERATIVE ILLUSTRATION VIA ADOBE PHOTOSHOP 2024
TECH OR TILLING PHL PONDERS PUSH, PULL FACTORS IN FARMING
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By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
UCENA City, Quezon Province— Crow’s feet on many faces of people in the recent celebration of the Niyogyugan Festival here reveal not only the deep tradition of farming but also unearth a conundrum forcing policy makers to use their coconuts: aging farmers and techinfatuated youth.
According to Dr. Liza Mariano, chief of the Quezon Provincial Agriculturist Office, a quiet crisis has been unfolding: farmers are getting older and fewer young people are stepping in to take their place. For Mariano, this generational gap in the agriculture workforce is a growing concern that could have serious implications not only for the future of the coconut industry but also the country’s food security. “We’re struggling to engage the youth [to go into farming]. We’re trying to address this with scholarships and livelihood programs; but the challenge remains. No one wants to engage,” she said adding that “the reality is stark.” Mariano said that just a few decades ago, the average age of farmers was around 53. Today, that number has risen to 58; “and it continues to climb.” While she noted that the reasons for this trend are complex, these boil down to the harsh truth that farming is hard work. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to make a living from it, Mariano said.
Just don’t
MARIANO said that as a parent, she would dissuade her child from going into farming. “‘Don’t farm, son. It’s hard. Just do TikTok or vlogging to make money,’” not farming, the agriculturist recalls telling her child. This, Mariano added, is a sentiment shared by many in the agriculture community. The combo of captivating city jobs and glittery digital careers has pushed too many young Filipinos away from farms, she said. With fewer young people entering agriculture, Mariano said there is a likelihood that the country will lose the whole gamut of knowledge and skills necessary to sustain and increase farming. According to House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga, rapid urbanization has led to a significant portion of the rural population, particularly the youth, abandoning agricultural activities in favor of more lucrative professions in urban areas. This trend poses a serious threat to the future of Philippine agriculture, Enverga said.
Dr. Liza Mariano, chief of the Quezon Provincial Agriculturist Office (left), and Quezon Governor Angelina Tan. “We’re struggling to engage the youth in farming. We’re trying to address this with scholarships and livelihood programs; but the challenge remains. No one wants to engage. The reality is stark,” Mariano said.
Luzviminda (right) and Sophia Lois V. Giangan. Luzviminda believes, “Farming doesn’t have to be hard forever. We just need to be open to improving and developing our practices.” Sophia Lois adds, “I enjoy farming because it not only offers many learnings but also allows us to help farm workers and their families.”
The lawmaker noted that currently, the average age of Filipino farmers is 58 years old. “With the youth sector comprising 44 million individuals aged 15 to 40, there is an urgent need to engage this demographic in agriculture,” Enverga said. “The challenge is not just about sustaining the agricultural sector but also about ensuring national food security by 2030.”
her family has never given up coconut farming. Luzviminda said she and her children are determined to keep that legacy alive. Luzviminda said she wants her daughter and son to see that there is a livelihood and future in farming. “It’s not as hard as people think if you know how to manage it and use technology to your advantage,” she said, adding that farming methods have changed significantly since the days of their forefathers. “Technology has played a lot in enhancing our traditional ways into a more productive and sustainable way. In this way, better tools and ways of doing things have made the life of a coconut farmer better,” she said. “Farming doesn’t have to be hard forever. There are ways to improve and develop our practices. We just need to be open, aware, and willing to accept changes,” Luzviminda added. “We’re no longer traditional farmers—we need to adapt to the environment and use the technology available to us.”
Only natural
FOR over 70 years now, coconut farming has been the primary means of livelihood for Luzviminda Giangan’s family in San Antonio, Quezon Province. For the Giangan family, coconut farming is more than a livelihood; it’s a way of life passed down through generations. Luzviminda’s grandparents were coconut farmers. “And my parents continued the tradition. I continue farming; and now my children are also doing it. It was only natural for me to carry it forward,” she said. Despite the odds,
Franco Bondeci of Yakap at Halik, a multipurpose cooperative based in Quezon: “Production is not the problem. It’s the price. That’s why it’s good for us to have a cooperative so there will be no middleman.”
Values valued
LUZVIMINDA—whose name is a portmanteau of the names of the country’s three major island groups Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao— said the future of their farm is now in the hands of a new generation. She points to her 15-year-old daughter, Sophia Lois V. Giangan. According to Sophia, the future of farming lies in one’s capacity to adapt to changes and innovate to make processes more efficient. She said she finds happiness in the work her parents are doing and shares her passion with them. “Nag-e-enjoy din ako sa farming kasi bukod sa maraming natututunan, marami kaming natutulungan na mga tao or mga farm workers [I also enjoy farming because, besides the many learnings, we are able to help people or farm workers],” Sophia said, adding that the latter are now able to send their children to school. These children are now being encouraged by Sophia to take up farming. “My advice [to these children] is
Moncini “Muneer” Hinay (left) and Raaina Hinay of Kids Who Farm. Moncini says, “Our food doesn’t come from a box; it’s produced by our farmers and food producers.” Raaina adds, “We provide a platform for proactive community engagement. Start small—learning to grow your own food begins at home.”
to always see the opportunities and learnings that can be gained from farming,” Sophia said. The younger Giangan believes farming is not only a noble profession but also a solution to food security. “The youth must be made aware that food security is one of our main challenges,” Sophia said, partly in Filipino. According to the provincial government, Quezon has a total agricultural area of nearly 4,168 square kilometers or double the size of Davao City and nearly the size of Tokyo, Japan. The figure also represents nearly half (47.87 percent) of the total provincial land area. The total area planted with coconuts covers nearly 379,138 hectares (nearly 3,791 km2), making Quezon the province with the largest coconut production area in the Philippines. In the year 2020, Quezon was credited with producing nearly 1.5 million metric tons, making it the top coconut-producing province in the country. Continued on A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 56.4480 n JAPAN 0.3888 n UK 73.9130 n HK 7.2431 n CHINA 7.9169 n SINGAPORE 43.2452 n AUSTRALIA 38.0572 n EU 62.9395 n KOREA 0.0423 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.0456 Source: BSP (August 23, 2024)