SAN FABIAN– Rep. Christopher De Venecia has fulfilled his promise to farmers in the Fourth District three years ago when he campaigned in 2016 for his first term of office by legislating for their priority needs.

Noting that there are more farmers than fishermen in the Fourth District (Dagupan, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Manaoag and San Fabian) the young De Venecia sought out farmers to ask them what concerns that they want the government to address.

In these dialogues, he was shocked to learn that the average age of farmers today is 57 years old and was further dumbfounded to find out that young people even the children of farmers, are shying away from farming.

He learned that today’s young people do not wish to follow the footsteps of their parents who made farming as their main source of livelihood notwithstanding the fact that their modest income from farming enabled them to finish their education.

De Venecia, who learned farming through month-long farm immersion in Laguna, told the farming communities that there is nothing wrong with farming. It is a noble livelihood in many countries, like the United States, Canada and Europe, citing the success of farmers as among the richest.

This was among the reasons why De Venecia pushed for the passage of the Magna Carta of Young Farmers in the 18th Congress that provides incentives to young people who will go into farming and produce the food that the country’s population needs. .

He said he will re-file his bill in the 19th Congress if he wins a second term in office.

Aside from this, he was among those instrumental in pushing for the Free Irrigation Act, which is now benefiting farmers as they no longer appropriate part of their palay harvests as payment for irrigation fees like they used to.

The young congressman said he believes that with many young people drawn to the farms as a result of the Magna Carta of Young Farmers, there is no doubt that agri-business will soon flourish and be the next sunshine industry in the Philippines.

Combined with farm tourism, which De Venecia is also determined to promote, agri-business will transform farmers into rich entrepreneurs who will soon carry on their shoulder the job of feeding the whole nation and igniting the economy.

Meanwhile. De Venecia continues to bring government technicians to the farms in order to impart modern concepts and techniques in farming that will enable farmers to harvest more.

 He put up a demonstration farm in Barangay Aramal, San Fabian under the care of the Aramal Tocok Cooperative headed by Turing Distor that showcases organic farming for vegetables

To underscore need to modernize farming, he has since been distributing water pumps and farm tractors and thresher-harvesters with the help of the Department of Agriculture. 

De Venecia recently opened a new Rice Processing Complex in Barangay Oraan East, Manaoag now being operated by the farmers.  (Leonardo Micua)

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