Filipino Farmers: A Dying Breed

            Philippines is considered as an agricultural country but despite its title, the number of people entering the industry is decreasing, mainly due to various stereotypes about farming like being a farmer is considered to be a low-class job and just for unfortunate people who can’t afford good education and wealthy lifestyle.

           “The average age of the Filipino farmer is 57. Assuming an average life span of 70, we might reach a critical shortage of farmers in just 15 years,” said Asterio Saliot, director of the Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI). And without these farmers, there will not be enough food to feed the 97 million Filipinos since the country’s population growing at about 2 percent per year and is projected to reach 120 million by 2025.

           Unfortunately, people do not think of agriculture or farming as a profession, which makes it less attractive for younger people, Nonong Velasco, a consultant for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said.

           "Bakit wala nang magsasaka? Kasi hindi ino-honor ang farmers. Hindi sila binibigyan nghalaga...there's something wrong in our society. We do not honor hardwork. We do not honor labor...parang palagi na lang sila ang na-aabuso, 'ika nga," Velasco added.

Reborn: Modern Filipino Farmer

           With all the innovations and technologies in our modern world, more than 90% of farmers today work using the most innovative practices and growing techniques to produce enough food, fuel and fiber for growing world, while minimizing their environmental footprint at the same time.

           The term “modern agriculture” depicts their commitment to innovation, stewardship and meeting the global food challenge all at once which is not conventional in anyway.

           As stated earlier, farmers here in the Philippines are already categorized in the lower social division of our society but wherein fact; they are the most fundamental bracket in sustaining our lives. This is the truth accepted worldwide.

           We all eat but not all of us know how to produce food or doesn’t know how to farm. We are all born with different desires and passions but is farming a matter of choice nowadays, with all the food-related health issues? Is producing something healthy a matter of passion or desire? Or is it something every human being must need to know, in whatever little way he/she can? Is farming just a job to earn money or farming is a vital component in one’s life?