Agri in the hands of the youth
By their dominance in the presidential campaign rallies, today’s youth will change our future in a way we have never seen. This can be true as well for agriculture, which needs radical change from a laggard to a powerhouse that only the youth can accomplish.
On these rallies, Jose Ma. Montelibano wrote: “The newest but most inspiring development is the recent entry of the young voters from their late teens to their 30s. There is no greater potential than a young generation to lead the charge for change. They have the numbers, they have boundless energy, and they carry an idealism that only needs a small spark to ignite.”
He adds: “The era of lying and stealing in government service will experience a disruptive challenge from both volunteers and the youth. It is about a future that only young hearts and eyes can see or sense, one that is unclear but drawing them like a powerful magnet.”
Technology and digitalization have enabled the youth to emerge as the dominant force in these elections. Without the youth’s knowledge and ability to use them, these rallies would have been the same as in previous years.
What does this “youth power” mean for Philippine agriculture?
Like our national situation, our agriculture needs immediate attention from the youth. It is the laggard in our economy, increasing just by an average 1.6 percent annually compared to industry’s 6.8 percent for nine consecutive years. Agriculture has also suffered the most from government neglect. Agriculture’s share in our national budget is a measly 2 percent, compared to Thailand’s 4 percent and Vietnam’s 6 percent.
And instead of government encouraging agriculture production by providing the required support services, it promotes importation alongside sudden and severe tariff cuts and does not address rampant smuggling.
Note that the young are hardly present in agriculture, where the farmer’s average age is 58 years old. How can we produce the food we need in the future if the young generation does not take over?
Because of his broad experience, vice presidential candidate and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan has been the most effective person in explaining why “agriculture needs a radical change.” Only the energized and enlightened youth can provide this. We have seen the youth transform local rallies into a nationwide movement.
What are the key changes needed? First, we must use science and technology. Other countries are more effective and efficient because their young people use the latest tools to improve agriculture productivity.
Second, we must know both the domestic and global markets. With digitalization and the internet, the youth are best equipped to access and understand this information.
Third, we must have organizational expertise. Calixto Chikiamco is correct when he says that agriculture programs will have very limited success unless “we change the agriculture system from the present atomized small-scale fragmented agriculture.” Emil Javier adds that our predominant monocrop systems without small farm consolidation and diversification will condemn our farmers to perpetual poverty.
Fourth, we must address effectively our rapidly changing global environment amid climate change and wide-ranging international trade agreements. These areas are where the youth’s organizational acumen and international orientation are superior.
The youth can succeed where the older generation has failed. On April 25, four areas were approved and recommended for immediate action by a subcommittee of the public-private Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries:
1. For the appropriate agriculture sectors, identify global threats and recommend measures such as using international trade options and fighting smuggling;
2. Implement the market information system mandated by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997;
3. Provide the required support services and subsidies for our key products to compete globally; and
4. Take action on the most critical short-term plans in selected commodity road maps, with the strategic involvement of the public-private road map implementation teams.
Today’s youth must change our future. They must also prioritize agriculture, which badly needs their talent and commitment. INQ
The author is Agriwatch chair, former secretary of presidential flagship programs and projects, and former undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry. Contact him at [email protected].
