La Trinidad: More young residents of La Trinidad, a municipality in Benguet province, are increasingly engaging in farming due to various programs and assistance provided by the local government and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
According to Philippines News Agency, Nida Organo, the head of the municipal agriculture office, highlighted that the average age of farmers in the region has shifted from the national average of 57 to a younger demographic of 30 to 40 years old. This shift is attributed to numerous initiatives aimed at young farmers.
One of the key programs for La Trinidad's youth is the promotion of entrepreneurship, targeting out-of-school youth, college undergraduates, and even graduates who face employment challenges. Roderick Awingan, the current vice mayor and mayor-elect, has proposed government-funded scholarships for courses such as Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, BS Agricultural Engineering, and Development Communication, in collaboration with universities.
Awingan emphasized the importance of informing and educating young people about the opportunities in the vegetable and agriculture industry, given La Trinidad's flourishing vegetable trading sector. DA records show that daily vegetable trade in the municipality reaches at least 2 million kilograms, contributing a minimum of PHP40 million to the local economy each day.
This booming industry has spurred the opening of banks, restaurants, and other businesses in the area. Awingan noted that the vegetable industry is crucial to the municipality's economy and stressed the need to involve young people in agricultural production and entrepreneurship to sustain its growth.
In addition, Jennilyn Dawayan, regional director of the DA-Cordillera, mentioned initiatives like the 4-H Club, managed by the Agricultural Training Institute, and the Young Farmers' Challenge, which are attracting young individuals to farming. These programs offer capital and foster innovation, with noticeable enthusiasm among participants in the annual competition.
