The chair of the House of Representatives’ agriculture committee lauded the Department of Agriculture for a new program aimed at providing loans to fresh graduates of agriculture and agriculture-related courses so they could further develop their farming projects and innovations.
The program could very well entice more youth to pursue agriculture as a career, since lack of capital to fund their projects has been a perennial sticking point, ANAC-IP Rep. Jose T. Panganiban said.
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol revealed recently that a new program will provide loans to new graduates for farm production, equipment purchase, and agri-entrepreneurship. The funds will come from the DA’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council.
“The prospect of available funds on graduation could also spark renewed interest in the sector, especially with enrollment in agriculture courses dwindling.”
The loan would be payable in eight years at 2 percent interest.
“Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa pagtugon sa pangamba ng mga agri graduates na hindi nila magagamit ang natutunan nila dahil sa kawalan ng pondo,” (This will help in assuring agri graduates who fear that they will not get to implement what they have learned because of fund shortages) said Panganiban.
“The prospect of available funds on graduation could also spark renewed interest in the sector, especially with enrollment in agriculture courses dwindling.” the solon added.
The Commission on Higher Education reported that enrollment in agriculture courses across the country fell from 127,287 for the school year 2016-2017 to 100,922 for 2017-2018.
The credit program could also spur more research aimed at increasing the value of agricultural products, Panganiban said.
“We need more research to make Philippine agriculture more modern and productive even in the face of climate change.”
The lawmaker also urged the DA to come up with more programs that will give primacy on research and development.
“We need more research to make Philippine agriculture more modern and productive even in the face of climate change. Ang programang ito ay patunay na naiisip din ng pamahalaan ang halaga ng pananaliksik sa pagsiguro na may pagkain ang pamilyang Pilipino,” he said.
