Youth from across the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) converged at Mount Data Hotel, Bauko, Mountain Province for the first-ever Young Farmers Leaders Congress held from June 13-14, 2024. The event was organized by the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council (RAFC).
Ryan Palunan, RAFC Chairperson and one of the organizers,shared that this program aims to encourage young farmer leaders to be involved in policy making and to address agricultural issues and concerns within their provinces through resolutions or policies that can benefit relevant agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“[This event] shows that the youth have a part in advancing the agriculture sector, especially here in the Cordillera. They can come up with a policy agenda that can help make improvements and things happen in the agriculture sector,” Palunan said.
Engaging youth in the Agricultural and Fisheries sector
Jerome Baay, one of the resource speakers from Abra, emphasized the importance of the congress in opening the eyes of young people to the vast opportunities in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
“It is an invitation for the young ones to engage or immerse themselves to become productive, enhancing their capability to become the voice and bridge of the sector in the many facets and encouraging them to participate in the improvement or innovation of the sector through policy making or recommendations,” Baay said.
He added the need for a shift in perspective for young people. By introducing agriculture through an “entrepreneurial lens,” and framing agriculture as a business opportunity can encourage the youth to get involved.
“Drop the traditional thinking of agriculture and start to innovate. Changing how we think changes how we see things,” he expressed.
Benefits for Young Leaders
Valery Bugtong, Sagguniang Kabataan (SK) Kagawad from Irisan, Baguio City, and one of the participants shared that the young farmer leaders congress is one of the small actions to start to address different agricultural issues and concerns of different provinces.
“Making and presenting resolutions ay nakatulong para mas ma-aksyonan ‘yung mga issues. Even though it is far from application, it is good that they started this congress, draft pa lang pero we are looking forward to it kasi it is very imperative to our community for holistic development of the young farmers,” she shared.
She added that as a youth leader in their barangay, joining this congress would help them to lead properly and create avenues for their fellow youth in their barangay, especially in the Agriculture sector.
Josh Belino, one of the youth representatives from Abra shared that it made him realize that his fellow farmers through resolutions that can be converted into ordinances.
“Through this, we can help our fellow farmers and promote agriculture practices and productions,” he said.
He expressed that farming plays a critical role in one’s society and it encourages young farmers to engage in the agriculture sector.