Senatorial candidate and former food security secretary Kiko Pangilinan on Wednesday encouraged colleges and universities to introduce agri-business and agri-ecotourism electives to help make farming a more attractive and viable career for young Filipinos.

Speaking before students of Wesleyan University in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija on 26 March, Pangilinan said one way to promote farming to the youth is to increase potential income from the sector and integrate it into education. He also volunteered to teach such courses himself.

“My suggestion is, do you have business courses here? Do you have agri-business? I hope there can be an agri-business elective. If so, I’ll teach it,” Pangilinan said in Filipino, drawing cheers and applause from the audience.

“Or do you have an agri-ecotourism elective? I can teach that too,” he added.

Pangilinan, who manages Sweet Spring Country Farm, a vegetable and herb farm, said the way to make farming “sexy” is to make it profitable.

“Why would anyone go into farming if it doesn’t pay well? If the farmers’ income isn’t increased, what’s the point of any intervention?” he said.

He stressed that encouraging students to pursue agriculture must go beyond traditional subsistence models. He urged schools to equip students with entrepreneurial skills through elective courses, enabling them to see farming as a business opportunity.

“The academe should offer these types of electives to encourage students. Through agri-business and agri-ecotourism, instead of just subsistence farming, they can learn how to earn from running a farm,” he said.

Pangilinan, who is running on a food security platform in the 2025 elections, has consistently pushed for greater support for public universities. As a senator, he co-authored the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free tuition in state colleges and universities.