Legarda bill to address aging agri workforce

As the Philippine agricultural sector faces a looming labor crisis, Senator Loren Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 518, seeking to establish the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Council to revitalize the industry with a new generation of agri-entrepreneurs.

“The average age of our farmers is now 53 years old. If this trend continues, we could face a critical shortage of food producers within the next decade, which will threaten our food security,” Legarda said.

The four-term senator highlighted that nearly three out of 10 farmers and fisherfolk still live below the poverty line, making agriculture a less desirable career for the youth.

“We must act now to make agriculture viable, attractive, and dignified for the youth. SB 518 introduces the Young Farmers and Fisherfolk Challenge Program, a comprehensive initiative for aspiring food producers aged 15 to 40 years old,” Legarda emphasized.

The proposed measure offers concrete interventions, including start-up capital and financial support, access to voluntary health, retirement and calamity insurance, as well as pathways to land access, technical training, and inclusive education geared toward sustainable and modern farming careers. It also guarantees youth participation in policymaking and encourages the adoption of climate-smart and digitally driven agricultural practices.