I was once an agriculture student, and I can testify that this course is not as easy as others think. Students will be exposed to various mind-tracking activities, write essays, conduct research, experiments, and scientific investigation, and be predisposed to laboratory and soil examinations.
It was challenging as it was interesting. To be an agriculture student requires knowledge of the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, and especially mathematics). It is also necessary to acquire skills, and develop new ideas to make a difference and influence the future of our people.
I urge students to take agriculture courses in college. As much as the Philippines is an agricultural country, our agriculture sector is in need. Without agriculture, we could never have built cities, let alone our civilization and human knowledge.
However, we must first break the stigma around agriculture and flip the script for students by making agriculture something young people view as an opportunity and a course they can choose in the future, without feeling ashamed. To complement this, the government should create agricultural jobs and opportunities for youth as there are only a few good jobs in farming.
Nevertheless, we should not be confused. Maybe we have not yet realized it because we concentrate on taking the easiest way to have a better job and prosperous life. Let us remember that agriculture is the future of the world, and choosing to study the course will position you to be relevant in the future. When will we open our minds to agriculture?
Abdul Hafiz Tacoranga Maltawani,
Mindanao State University