With agriculture becoming less an attractive career choice among today's youth, the provincial government of Northern Samar is now planning to boost interest among its young people to take up agriculture-related courses.
Recently, the provincial government announced plans to open applications for a new scholarship program aimed at supporting indigent but deserving agriculture students across the province.
The initiative, called the Provincial Government of Northern Samar Agriculture Scholarship Program (PGNS-ASP), was created under Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance 08, series of 2025.
The ordinance, which was passed during the term of former governor Edwin Ongchuan, seeks to provide financial assistance to qualified youth in the province pursuing a degree in agriculture, while strengthening local agricultural productivity.
“Under the ordinance and its approved implementing rules and regulations (IRR), scholars will receive financial support for their studies. In return, beneficiaries must commit to practicing agriculture within Northern Samar or engage in agri-entrepreneurship immediately after completing their degree,” the provincial government said in a statement issued March 10.
This arrangement will be formalized through an agri-entrepreneurship commitment agreement with the provincial government.
To qualify, applicants must be indigent agriculture students from Northern Samar, of good moral character, physically and mentally fit, not more than 35 years old at the time of application, carrying a full academic load each school year, and from a family of farmers as certified under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
The PGNS-ASP underscores the administration’s commitment to investing in both education and agriculture. Provincial officials said the program aims to develop future agri-leaders and contribute to building a food-secure and resilient Northern Samar
Further details, including application procedures and timelines, will be announced in the coming weeks.
While the Department of Agriculture (DA) has said the median age of farmers in the Philippines has decreased from 57 to 50 years old as of 2023, experts have continued to raise concerns about the "aging" population of farmers in the Philippines and declining interest among the youth to take up agriculture as a career.
(With report from PNA)
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