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[av_heading heading=’URBAN FARMER ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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IN 2007, a young student was able to earn his BS Agricultural Extension degree from the Central Philippine State University (CPSU) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental.
According to Jose Arnel E. Cordova, agriculture was not really his first choice because he originally wanted to become an architect.
There were several reasons why this had been the case.
First, architecture is far more expensive to pursue than agriculture.
Secondly, he qualified for the President Diosdado Macapagal Agrarian Scholarship Program, a scholarship for students to take any agriculture-related program.
Cordova says that choosing a different path opened many opportunities and learning experiences for him.
Right after graduation, he immediately worked as a Science Research Assistant at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Negros.
He then became as a development staff member, which serves farmers and other rice stakeholders in the Western and Central Visayas.
As a development worker, his work focuses on the implementation of development programs such as the Rice Business Innovation System Community and Knowledge, Sharing, and Learning.
Among his responsibilities include localizing, printing, and disseminating knowledge products.
He also serves as PhilRice Negros’s training specialist.
Cordova shares that as an agricultural development worker, he feels fulfilled whenever he helps the farmers, uplift them, and somehow change their lives or see them smile.
From the start of his career, he has always been involved in hands-on agriculture and development work.
His passion to help farmers and other agriculture stakeholders grew even more as he works for his hometown in Negros Occidental.
He says his work allows him to stay with his family, and at the same time, help improve the rice farming industry of their province and region.
Cordova also shares that as a development worker, his greatest contribution in agriculture is mobilizing the farmers to achieve higher yield.
He says that it inspires him whenever he is able to somehow address the needs of farmers in the different communities.
Cordova also shared that he always includes the farmers in his prayers.
He always dreams to be an instrument to answer the prayers of the local rice farmers.
His dreams for his family and for the farmers in their community inspire him to be a better development worker.
In fact, he plans to pursue further studies to enhance his knowledge and skills in development work and in agriculture in general.
It was learned that he is planning to take a postgraduate course in Rural Development or Development Communication – anything related to development.
“I want to pursue my master’s and, if possible, even doctorate degree. I want to hone my skills further so I can step up the services I give to farmers,” he says.
Recently, he was awarded as Outstanding Junior Development Worker during PhilRice’s 32nd anniversary.
According to him, he had mixed emotions when he knew he won the award.
But the award has heightened his passion even more for his work.
He says, “All we have to do is to help and inspire – everything else will follow.” (jaypeeyap@ymail.com)/PN
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