Going back to farming
One of my favorite songs to sing during karaoke sessions with friends is Elton John’s “Yellow Brick Road” where the chorus goes: “So goodbye yellow brick road, where the dogs of society howl; You can’t plant me in your penthouse, I’m going back to my plough.”
The song is inspired by the story “The Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy and her three misfit friends are told to follow the yellow brick road in search of the wizard, a metaphorical description of a path that will lead them to riches or life’s fantasies. “Goodbye yellow brick road” therefore means turning one’s back to the search for what glitters and shines and going back to a simpler life – in the plough or farm, that is.
Which brings me to the topic I want to bring up: I’ve always wanted to be a farmer, but not once have I seriously considered it to be career choice. Back in high school we were asked to take a career personality and aptitude test to help us find out what professions fit our personality. My results pointed to farming.
Then I figured out that maybe I can be better off with a city career first, buy farmlands while I can, then retire early and become a farmer. So every time I am in a karaoke place, it’s my chance to belt my heart out: “Back to the howling old owl in the woods, hunting the horny back toad; Oh I’ve finally decided my future lies beyond the yellow brick road.”
On a more serious note, please pray tell why farming is not considered a viable career choice for young people in our country?
A report in The FREEMAN yesterday mentioned Provincial Agriculturist Roldan Saragena who raised concerns over the declining interest of young people in farming. The Cebu Provincial Government earlier gave P1.4 million worth of farm equipment to 46 farmers’ associations in the province as part of efforts to support the sector and boost the island’s food security.
Forbes.com reported last year that the average age of farmers in the Philippines is 57 and there is lack of interest in the profession among young people.
This should worry us for two reasons. One is that climate change is threatening global food security. The second reason is that without a stable and modern agricultural sector, the Philippines will find it hard put to cross over into middle income status and stay there for good.
I don’t have the figures but innovation in the agricultural sector look emaciated in a dearth of news about advances in farming technology. We are not aware of any new methods developed by scientists to increase productivity and push up raw agricultural processes toward value-added agro-processing.
We used to teach the Thais how to grow and produce more rice. Now we’re importing rice from them. Thailand is now producing various high-quality consumer-packaged products from fruits, vegetables and seafood. Their scientists have conducted studies in health and aqua- and agricultural biotechnology which are published in prestigious international journals.
We can still catch up if we develop a clear and consistent national policy on agricultural development. It can be a policy that encourages universities to support more research in the agricultural sector and for the industry to benefit from research. We should also foster an enabling environment for farmers and agro-industrial innovators to be rewarded with a good quality of life.
Alas, this requires first and foremost genuine land reform which we have failed to accomplish amid decades of palliative reforms spanning several administrations.
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