Saying that the way to make farming “sexy” is to increase the income being derived from it, senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan pushed for academic institutions to include agri-business and agri-eco tourism electives in their courses, even offering his services as a lecturer.
Speaking to students of the Wesleyan University in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, March 26, the former senator shared ways on how to convince the youth to go into farming.
He pointed out that colleges and universities can start offering agri-business electives for business students and agri-eco tourism electives for tourism students.
“Ang suggestion ko rin sana, meron bang business courses dito? May agri-business? Sana magkaroon ng agri-business elective. Sige, magtuturo ako,” he said as the crowd cheered and applauded.
“O kaya meron bang kayong agri-eco tourism elective? Pwede rin ako magturo non,” he added.
Pangilinan owns the Sweet Spring Country Farm, where he grows lettuces, herbs, and other vegetables.
A former food security secretary during the Aquino administration, he underscored the need to make farming “sexy.”
“Why will you go into farming if it does not pay good? Kung hindi naman dadagdagan ang kita ng farmers, anong saysay ng intervention?,” he asked, emphasizing the need for farmers to earn more so farming could be a viable and attractive career path for the younger generation.
But to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and training to generate income from farming or build a successful business from it, the former senator said there’s a need for the academe to step up—by moving from the traditional subsistence farming to entrepreneurial courses related to agriculture.
“So, dapat sana ang academe ay magkaroon ng ganitong mga elective para maenganyo dahil sa agri-ecotourism at dahil sa agri-business sa halip na subsistence farming, malalaman kung paano pagkakakitaan ang isang farm,” he added.
While Pangilinan is running on the platform of food security, his legislative work shows continued efforts to support public universities by providing them with more funding, scholarships, and research grants.
The former senator co-authored the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which grants free tuition in state colleges and universities.