‘Incentivize young people on agriculture’
Start crafting policies which will make farming a viable option for those who will want to start
About half of Filipino farmers are likely to retire in the next decade, which will definitely leave a large gap for the next generation to fill.
Authorities should start realizing that the young farmers of today will be the key to the future of agriculture in the country.
The national government, including the various local government units, should start crafting policies which will make farming a viable option for those who will want to start.
Practical knowledge and exposure to farm life will be a good investment to develop the future players in the country’s agriculture field.
The program intends to help new farmers to implement tested strategies and new ideas that in turn, will benefit the people by reducing food insecurity, generate economic opportunities, and eventually, build new communities.
It can be noted that even the United States (US) government has already implemented its “Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program” several years ago, aiming, among other things, to develop a strong and diverse next generation of farmers.
Its program also supports various efforts to bring or entice the veterans and socially disadvantaged entrepreneurs into farming.
While the Philippine government may have its own programs on agricultural development, maybe it would be more effective if it could adopt the idea about this form of assistance to the Filipino farmers or would-be farmers in the country.
Following the program implemented by the US Department of Agriculture or USDA, more than $17 million, in grants, have been allocated to various organizations, which will develop training programs and provide resources for beginning farmers across the nation.
The program intends to help new farmers to implement tested strategies and new ideas that in turn, will benefit the people by reducing food insec awards grants to organizations that implement programs to train beginning farmers, which may take place through workshops, educational teams, training or technical assistance.
The program also allocates 10 percent of the funding to support the veterans, while about 50 percent of the funding will serve socially disadvantaged farmers.
Since the enactment of the program several years back, the US government has claimed that it has attained significant progress, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers, strengthening risk management tools, expanding access to rural credit, funding critical research, and establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships.
The program also developed new markets for rural-made products, and invested in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve the quality of life in the rural areas.
The US government believes that investing in beginning or new farmers is also an investment in the future of its people.
With this, it is high time to incentivize the youth to become the next generation of Filipino farmers.