Villar Stresses Need to Train More Young Agri-Entrepreneurs

Manila (PNA) – Senator Cynthia Villar has underscored the need to train more young agri-entrepreneurs in an effort to boost the country’s agricultural sector.

Villar made this call at the conclusion of a two-day training workshop dubbed “Youth as Agri-Entrepreneurs: Strengthening Agricultural Youth Organizations for Poverty Reduction on Friday at the Villar SIPAG training center in Las Pinas City.

Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, said the training workshop was held to strengthen the agricultural youth organizations– 4H Clubs, since they contribute to poverty alleviation in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Although the Philippine economy grew by six percent, the lady senator noted that poverty still persists in the country due to the decline in the agricultural sector.

“And since roughly one third of the country’s labor force are in the agricultural sector and those belonging to this sector get the lowest average daily basic pay compared to other sectors, it is no mystery why our country’s economic growth has failed to trickle down and curb poverty,” she said.

A total of 88 provincial and city presidents of 4H Clubs participated in the two-day training workshop.

The senator said the youth were chosen beneficiaries of the program since they belong to the most vulnerable with potential to have an impact on agricultural development.

“They have one of the highest potentials in breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty as well as instituting reforms to help increase the productivity of the agriculture sector,” said Villar.

Because of this, the senator said it is important to create interventions to reinforce agricultural youth organizations.

The training was held in partnership with the Department of Agriculture. (PNA) CTB/JFM

Image Credit: www.philstar.com