SENATOR Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. pushed for the creation of the Magna Carta for Young Farmers to encourage the youth to turn to farming to help the country achieve food sustainability.

In filing Senate Bill 1422, Revilla stressed the need to fully utilize the capacity and potential of the youth in promoting and improving the agriculture industry.

He said the government should encourage young people to engage in agriculture by establishing mechanisms for the promotion and protection of their rights, given the fact that the average age of Filipino farmers is 57 years old.

He warned that the country may run out of farmers in 15 years.

Revilla said farmers are getting too old for back-breaking work but sadly, their children are not keen on taking over their family farm.

“We have to encourage our millennials to go into farming. We remain an agricultural country and importation of agricultural products should be minimized,” Revilla said.

“Through appropriate education and training, coupled with sufficient support for technology, credit and capital, the new generation of creative and innovative millennials will become active agents of achieving our goals for food production and sustainability,” he said.

The measure shall ensure equal access to quality education and training of young farmers and encourage partnership and linkages with state universities and colleges on information and technology transfer to young farmers and organizations.

It also proposes how the young farmers and fishers will gain access to market and services provided by the government, as well as new technologies.

The bill defines a young farmer as an individual whose primary source of income comes from agriculture, with an age range of 15-35, is an owner, tenant, lessee or worker of the land in which he is personally cultivating.