Sen. Villar continues organic farming, agri jobs advocacy

BAYBAY CITY, Leyte, Feb. 19 (PNA) -- Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has called on farmers to practice organic farming and called on college schools to educate farmers and their family not to leave their farms in “exchange of urban jobs.”

The lawmaker made this appeal as keynote speaker of the 2nd National Organic Agriculture Scientific Conference at the Visayas State University held on February 17.

The senator noted that more people and groups are becoming more aware of the benefits of environment-friendly agricultural concepts, approaches or processes.

“Actually, our country has a National Organic Agriculture Program, which envisions the organic agriculture sector, contributing to the overall agriculture growth and development of the country in terms of sustainability, competitiveness and food security.”

Under the said program, at least five percent of Philippine agricultural farms will be converted into organic farms by 2016, but the country is still far from the target.

“The very reason why I chose to be in the committee on agriculture is because I believed that majority of the Filipinos below the poverty line are those people engaged in agriculture. I wish to promote their standard of living, not just to break them free from the clutches of poverty but to prosper as well,” she said.

Villar also reiterated his call to state universities and colleges (SUCs) to step up their efforts in educating farmers to help them “increase their productivity and eventually free them from the bondage of poverty.”

She added that the lack of farming mechanization, access to loans, and poor farming knowledge are considered as among the weaknesses of the farmers, who are considered as the poorest workforce in the country.

With the large number of agricultural workers, the role of SUCs, according to Villar has become more significant. Hence, she called on schools officials to make themselves more accessible to farmers, noting that most farmers cannot even afford the fare going to school.

“Visayas State University must also do their extension mandate to teach and reach out in providing the needed education for farmers,” she added.

An increase in their income would motivate and encourage farmers and their families “not to abandon their farms in exchange for urban jobs,” according to the lady senator.

“When we educate the agricultural workforce, food security in the country would surely improve through sustained agricultural production,” Villar stressed. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR