Filipino farmers: Among ASEAN’s oldest

CEBU, Philippines — As we all know now, even if year-on-year, the gross domestic product (GDP) went up by 6.3% in the second quarter, the agriculture sector went down by 2.3%. Worse, as heavy rains come and inundate the urban areas, farm lands will never be spared. Therefore, expect that the third quarter won’t be different.

Historical numbers do not lie. The agriculture sector contributed an estimated 8.9 percent of GDP in 2022. While this is too small a contribution, it employed 24 percent of the local workforce. Imagine, a single digit contribution to our economy for a double-digit local workforce. Clearly, therefore, this sector is so inefficient. That is why it is a no-brainer that while our economy grew by 7.6% last year, agriculture just went up by a measly 2%.

Moving forward, the future may be bleak. The country has one of the oldest farmers in the ASEAN with an average age of 57. To put it bluntly, this is a sector whose labor force has substantial number of senior citizens. And with most farm activities done manually, efficiency will just further dip as those in their 40s and 50s join their more senior farmers down the road.  That younger generation is shying away from it (farming),will only make the future austere.

This reduction in the labor force should have been better if this was due to modernization or mechanization of the country’s agriculture. Apparently, however, it is not. If there is one obvious reason, it was due primarily to rural exodus. It simply means, young and would be farmers or farm workers left their farms and tried their luck in highly urbanized areas. The mean reason, abject poverty. Or, that feeling of helplessness obtaining in the countryside. Thus, senior citizens and those about to be are the only ones that stayed behind.

Lately though, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) launched new initiatives to spur interest among the younger generation in agriculture.   Karen Eloisa Barroga, DA-PhilRice deputy executive director for development, emphasized the need to engage the younger generation (aged 10-12) in agriculture by getting them involved in planting the “institute’s rice paddy art this wet season and by establishing a new compact site called RiceSpark.”  “Introducing children to the art and science of rice farming at an early age fosters appreciation and responsibility toward agriculture while ensuring the continuity of innovation and passion in the field,” she added.

Quite frankly, there had been multitudes of perceived solutions (like financial incentives) to these woes (aging farmers and younger generation’s attitude towards farming) that didn’t work. However, there was something that was broached about five (5) years ago that seemed workable. Quite similar to this new initiative but on a different age bracket. Putting them together could be the solution as it affords continuity or permanency.

To recall, NEDA was urging colleges and universities “to improve their course offerings on agriculture-related programs and make them attractive to the young generation.”  Honestly, that was the first time that we heard this kind of proposal. Unlike the usual “fire-fighting” approaches in solving the agriculture sector’s woes, this happens to be the more lasting solution.

However, if seriously considered by the universities, we do not know.  The fact remains that “the interest to enroll in agriculture-related courses among students is declining.” What makes the situation worse is the fact that the concern of the continually increasing percentage of aging farmers (in the labor force) is serious and remains a huge threat to the country’s agricultural sector.

To attract the younger generation, the national government should seriously move towards mechanization. Definitely, it is through mechanization, by way of educating the younger generation, that we will be able to solve our problems in agriculture. Yes, with emphasis on educating young children and making courses in agriculture attractive to them by making it prospectively “economically attractive,” we can probably see soon the best minds joining the profession.

Also, as the younger generation are “digital natives”, incorporating information technology (which is massively used by farmers in Japan) into the course can also generate more interest. Otherwise, the agricultural sector will remain a bottom-dweller among the three sectors in the economy. A laggard, forever.