Youth in Farming: Planting Seeds for Security
By IVY BETALMOS
A farm became a classroom for the youth of Barangay Tagustusan as the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) brought its young constituents to an AgriTour at Victoria’s Farm, opening their eyes to the value of agriculture, the importance of food security, and the role young people can play in building a sustainable future.
The AgriTour gave the SK youth an opportunity to step outside the usual learning environment and experience agriculture firsthand. More than simply seeing a farm, the activity encouraged the participants to appreciate where food comes from, understand the work behind food production, and look at agriculture from a different perspective.
The young visitors were warmly welcomed by former Congressman Edgar M. Chatto together with his wife, Sangguniang Bayan Member Pureza V. Chatto. Promotional videos were also presented to introduce the youth to what Victoria’s Farm has to offer, giving them an overview of the farm and helping them discover the different possibilities and experiences that agriculture can provide.
Another meaningful part of the AgriTour was the discussion led by Kuya Raniel, who shared his knowledge about the traditional farming tools used in the past. The discussion gave the young participants a glimpse into how farmers worked before many of the modern technologies and equipment available today. More than a lesson about old farming tools, it became an opportunity for the youth to appreciate the knowledge, skills, traditions, and hard work passed down through generations of farmers.
The experience also underscored an important reality: agriculture needs young people, not only as future farmers, but also as innovators, entrepreneurs, advocates, community leaders, and professionals who can contribute to a stronger and more sustainable food system. By exposing young people to agriculture at an early stage, communities can help them understand the importance of food production and encourage them to consider agriculture as a meaningful part of their future.
The AgriTour was participated in by the SK youth of Barangay Tagustusan, together with Punong Barangay Marilyn Bugahod and the SK Kagawads. For the participants, the activity became more than a simple farm visit. It was a learning experience that allowed them to gain new insights into farming, appreciate agricultural heritage, and recognize the many possibilities that the sector can offer.
The initiative can serve as an inspiration and a challenge to other barangays, not only in Balilihan, but throughout Bohol and even in other cities and provinces, to find creative ways to engage their young people in activities that are both educational and meaningful. Barangay and SK leaders have an important role in creating opportunities where young people can learn practical skills, discover possible livelihoods, appreciate local resources, and understand the challenges facing their communities.
The challenge is not necessarily to duplicate the same AgriTour, but to ask a simple yet important question, “What meaningful experience can we create for the youth in our own barangay?” It could be a farm visit, a community garden, a livelihood workshop, an agricultural skills demonstration, an agri-entrepreneurship activity, or an encounter with local farmers. What matters is giving young people opportunities where they are not merely spectators, but active learners and participants.
The Tagustusan experience demonstrates how a simple initiative can open young minds to bigger possibilities. A young person who once viewed farming as something meant only for the older generation may begin to see it as a possible livelihood. Another may become interested in agricultural technology or entrepreneurship, while someone else may simply develop a deeper appreciation for the farmers who work to put food on the tables of Filipino families.
Agriculture is not only about producing food today. It is also about ensuring that there will be a generation willing and prepared to produce food tomorrow. This is why involving the youth in agriculture is an investment in the future, not only of farming, but of food security, community resilience, and sustainable development.
The AgriTour of the SK youth of Tagustusan is therefore more than an activity. It is an example of how communities can plant the seeds of awareness, responsibility, and possibility among the younger generation. It is also a reminder to barangay and SK leaders everywhere that youth development can go beyond the usual programs and activities. By providing young people with engaging, hands-on, and learning-centered experiences, we give them opportunities to discover their potential and become part of the solution to the challenges facing their communities.
Perhaps the greatest lesson from the AgriTour is simple: when young people are given meaningful opportunities to learn, explore, and participate, we are not simply preparing the next generation of farmers. We are preparing the next generation of Boholanos who can help build communities that are more resilient, sustainable, and food-secure. And somewhere among the young people who walked through Victoria’s Farm that day, a seed may have been planted, not only in the soil, but in the mind of a young Boholano who may one day help feed a community.