VILLAR CITES THE NEED FOR YOUTH AGRI-ENTREPRENEURS

TO help boost the country's agricultural sector, the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Training Institute, will sponsor a training workshop entitled "Youth as Agri-Entrepreneurs: Strengthening Agricultural Youth Organizations for Poverty Reduction on July 24-25 at Villar SIPAG, Brgy. Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas City.

Villar said the training workshop intends to strengthen the agricultural youth organizations-- 4H Clubs, since they contribute to poverty alleviation in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Although the Philippine economy posted roughly 6% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth based on the record of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Villar noted that poverty still persists.

While the growth in the services sector contributed to the reported development, she cited 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 will participate 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.

Villar will deliver the Welcome Remarks while his son, Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar, will give the Inspiration Message. 4H Club President and ATI Chief of the Extension Programs and Partnership Division Engr. Renato dela Cruz is the Keynote Speaker.

Prof. Edel Guiza of the Asian Institute of Management will act as facilitator of the training workshop and she will also speak on Poverty Reduction and Agricultural Development.

The other speakers in the said event and their topics are the following: Dr. Asterio P. Saliot, Director, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Youth in Agriculture and Fisheries in the Philippines; Dr. Jose Rene Gayo, Executive Director of the MFI Farm Business Institute and Founding Dean of the School of Management of the University of Asia and the Pacific, Youth as Agri-Entrepreneurs: Challenges and Prospects and Dr. Jose Hawkins, McSilver Associate Professor in Poverty Studies and McSilver Faculty Fellow of New York University, Reaction: Transition from Poverty & Welfare to Positions of Economic Sustainability.

To end the training workshop, Engr. Dexter Gonzales will tour the participants to the Villar SIPAG Livelihood Programs.