IF more students are enrolled in agriculture and agribusiness courses this school year, particularly in state universities and colleges, that means they are answering the call of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to take part in leveling up the country's farming and fishery sector, so we can eventually produce at least 100 percent of our major staples like rice, corn, poultry, livestock and fisheries.

But my fear is the number of students who have enrolled in agriculture and agribusiness courses will show a decline this school year, which may mean that the youth generally have no interest in becoming farmers, fishers, or agripreneurs. I also find it disturbing that a recent study by the University of the Philippines in Los Baños showed that the average age of the Filipino farmer is around 58 years old, and that 65 percent of the farmers interviewed want their children to go into other vocations or professions.

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