Agriculture officials and advocates are seeing an increasing interest among younger people in different agriculture-related activities, with more joining the ranks of agripreneurs, farmers, and fisherfolk.

“The RSBSA (Registry System of Basic Sector in Agriculture) list shows that the average age of farmers is now 47. This is good for all of us because this shows young people are starting to get interested in food production and agribusiness,” lawyer Jennilyn Dawayan, director of the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Cordillera, said in a phone interview on Tuesday.

For several years, she said, the commonly known average age of farmers is 57, which has alarmed authorities due to the possibility of food scarcity because of the aging population of farmers and fisherfolk.

“Young people are starting to change their mindset about agriculture and farming in terms of food production. Now, agribusiness, marketing, agri-tourism are attached to the main agriculture activity, which is production,” she said.

Dawayan said the DA has several activities that entice young people to go into agriculture, one of which is the conduct of the Young Farmers’ Challenge (YFC).

In 2023, the government spent PHP5.85 million for YFC’s implementation. Winners received prizes that allowed them to have an initial capital for any agricultural endeavor.

From having just a few participants from the region’s six provinces and this city when it began in 2021, the annual competition has so far attracted more than 300 participants.

Dawayan also said that with a lot of government support now available to farmers and fisherfolk who desire to pursue any activity related to agriculture, food production, and food processing, many are encouraged to join the sector.

The urban agriculture program alone is seeing a rising number of participants, with residents maintaining small edible gardens with potted plants for onion leeks, tomatoes, and a lot more.

Ryan Palunan, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC) chairperson, said another sign of the younger generation’s increasing interest in agriculture is that young professionals in various fields are getting into farming and food production.

He, for one, started his engagement in agriculture when he was 21, when he joined the YFC and emerged as among the provincial winners who won PHP50,000 cash for his urban gardening project.

“I am going into agribusiness, no longer into production. I would like to venture into agriculture but on a different level, no longer tilling the soil but into the marketing of agricultural products,” he said in a press conference on Monday as part of the Farmers and Fisherfolks Month’s celebration.

Palunan, 27, is the youngest RAFC chairman in the country.

“As a young farmer-leader, my goal is that one day we could see an increase (in the number) of youths in the sector. (Those) who are actively involved in agriculture, not only on the production side but also maximizing the other sides of it — marketing, processing, and logistics. As part of the RAFC, our goal is to see young minds participating in policy and agenda-making and setting for the betterment of the agriculture sector,” he said.

In a reply to questions from the Philippine News Agency, Palunan talked about the 4H club where he is also a member.

“4H stands for head, heart, hands, health. It aims to encourage (the) youth into (joining the) agriculture (sector) by providing avenues to learn, by doing and making the best better through agriculture-related activities, and training the young people to become leaders in the agriculture sector,” he said.

The club is composed of people aged 10 years to 30 years, and includes out-of-school youths.

Palunan said they formed the club in the region in 2019, with only 50 members. Membership grew to about 3,000 but after the pandemic active members declined to about 1,600, thus, more promotions are being done to get others to participate.

He said recruitment is done in schools and with the help of the local government units.

Among the members’ benefits are training and seminars on agriculture and capacity building, immersion activities on agriculture, linkage with other young farmers in other regions, and internship programs overseas, such as in Taiwan and Japan.

“Especially in Kalinga, all the barangays (villages) have 4H clubs and are increasing in number. We conduct training and seminars not only in agriculture but also on leadership and capacity building. The club is also involved in community activities and social activities that help in the growth of the individual,” Palunan said.

“Nakakatulong ang 4H (4H is helping) by immersing (the) youth in agriculture activities and training them to become future leaders in agriculture. Also, it helps (the sector) because the bright ideas of (the) youth are incorporated or integrated into agriculture, which can help in future development and advancement of the sector.” (PNA)