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[av_heading heading=’Where have all the farmers gone? ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Tuesday, august 1, 2017
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ILOILO City – The average age of farmers now is 57 years, revealed the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas.
“We have graying farming communities. It is important nga mapabalik ta ang love for agriculture sa mga kabataan,” said DA Region 6’s new director Remelyn Recoter during the recent launching of “Gulayan sa Eskwelahan” at Lanit Elementary School in Barangay Lanit, Jaro district.
Census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that from 2013 to 2015, there was a steady decline on the country’s agricultural employment rate (an average of .53 to 1.39 percent).
In 2013, there were at least 31.06 million Filipinos involved in agriculture but this shrunk to 29.14 million in 2015, the census showed.
Through the “Gulayan sa Eskwelahan”, DA-6 is promoting the love for agriculture among public elementary pupils and high schools students.
“Right now, dwindling ang enrollment sa agriculture courses,” said Recoter.
DA-6 is coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct campaigns “nga ang mga pamatan-on ma-encourage to love agriculture,” she said.
Recoter also appealed to the private sector to help the DA in this campaign.
At the end of school year 2017-2018, DA-6 will be giving out awards to schools with exemplary gulayan or vegetable gardens.
Prizes include farm machineries and tools, seeds for the winning schools and probably cash, said Recoter.
“If the school is ready to implement (the “Gulayan sa Eskwelahan”), we will provide the necessary support like vegetable seeds and garden tools,” said Recoter./PN
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