President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for the full adoption of modern and high-tech agricultural technologies in the Philippines, stating that this approach is essential to attract more young Filipinos to farming and address the aging trend in the sector.
During a dialogue with this year’s 43 Gawad Saka awardees at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, Marcos expressed the government’s commitment to transforming farming into a viable and productive career for the younger generation.
“Ang average age ng ating mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda ay masyado nang mataas dahil nga mahirap ang buhay ng magsasaka,” he remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by farmers and fisherfolk. He noted that the youth are often drawn to more comfortable white-collar jobs, and emphasized the importance of making farming more appealing to them.
“Kailangan natin pumasok sa mga bagong teknolohiya… Ang nakakaunawa at mga practitioner ng high-tech agriculture ay ang mga kabataan. Sila ang magtuturo sa atin ng mga bagong teknolohiya,” Marcos stated, advocating for the adoption of new technologies and recognizing that the youth are key to understanding and implementing high-tech agriculture.
He added that utilizing technology in agriculture can enhance productivity and create outcomes that inspire young Filipinos to view farming as a viable livelihood.
The President acknowledged that decades of neglect have hindered the agriculture sector’s progress but assured farmers that under his administration, “Babaguhin natin lahat ‘yan,” promising significant changes to improve the industry.
