Cavite Coffee & How NCST Graduates Can Help Revitalize PH Farming With Their Computer, Engineering & Accountancy Expertises

I was pleasantly surprised to find Secretary of Agriculture William Dar speaking as guest in the graduation rites of the National College of Science and Technology (NCST) in Dasmariñas, Cavite on 19 May 2022. There is no agriculture there!

(above, my photograph taken 27 April 2018, Mr Dar at a RiceUp Conference in Pampanga)

In Mr Dar’s NCST graduation speech, ANN says “Agri Chief Urges Fresh Grads To Join DA’s Fight For Food Security” (20 May 2022, DA.gov.ph):

Agriculture Secretary William D Dar encouraged the new graduates of the National College of Science and Technology (NCST) to participate in innovative solutions towards increasing the country’s food security level during the NCST’s Commencement Exercises.

He said, “We need the talent of the youth in the sector that employs majority of our workforce. Please join us in Philippine agriculture.”

Up to today, as an agriculturist, educator and the son of a farmer, I see that a great majority of Filipino farmers treat farming as a way of life, not a business – which explains why millions remain somewhere near the poverty line.

[Mr Dar] encouraged the youth to reflect on how their personal research and other undertakings will be relevant in addressing food availability, affordability, and accessibility, increasing incomes of farmers and fishers, and creating more sustainable jobs.

How do you think the non-Agriculture graduates of the NCST (or any other college) can help in improving food availability, affordability etcetera (see above quote)?

“I encourage you to use your dreams as the basis of the quality of life you would want the people around you to enjoy.”

NCST President & Chief Executive Officer Emerson Atanacio “committed that the college will soon offer agriculture courses. Currently, NCST offers courses among others in education, psychology, architecture, and tourism.

I can see that immediately the NCST can start moving their courses towards Agriculture by emphasizing “Farm Tourism” – to help build the business of farming.

Moreover, the NCST graduates can start working right there in Cavite serving the coffee farmers. According to Kape Isla, Amadeo, Cavite has 4,790 hectares of coffee, the largest area devoted to coffee in Cavite, the biggest coffee producer in the province and in the country (philcoffeeboard.com).

“Investigating” further, I found that the NCST is offering 3 degrees: BS in Accountancy, BS in Computer Science, and BS in Industrial Engineering. Thus, thinking of the NCST, I say:

Why not a unique DA program called “ACTS Agriculture,” or “Accountancy, Computers & Technology Services for Agriculture”

– with a P7 Million fund to it. With ACTS, the DA can harness the talents of NCST graduates for farming, ACTS coming up with a Knowledge Bank plus different models of enterprises of crops & livestock – starting with coffee.

Because:

To be successful in farming, remember what the NCST stands for:
Know your agriculture (search for knowledge via computer);
Master your equipment (via Engineering); and
Wizen your accounting (via Accountancy).

ACTS will thus enable NCST graduates to become active partners of government in making Agriculture energizing for everyone!@517

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Knorr Of Big Business Unilever Thinks Big Business Regenerative Agriculture – My Tiny Country PH Also Should!

Image
“Knorr’s plan for 50 regenerative agriculture projects is predicted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use by an estimated 30% while improving biodiversity, soil health and livelihoods.” That is regenerative agriculture (RA) news by Julian Cirineo (05 Nov 2021, “Unilever Wants To Rethink How Farms Work To Secure Food And Resources For The Future,” Rappler , rappler.com ). Note: 50 (not 5 only) RA projects to improve greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and water use by 30% – plus improving biodiversity, soil health and livelihoods. Note the last 7 words in the above paragraph. How can RA improve biodiversity? RA requires that the farmer practices multiculture (a few or many crops grown at the same time in the same place), where monoculture (such as rice-only or corn-only) is the practice – the biodiversity improves crop health because of the ensuing balance of nature, such as some organisms feed on other organisms that would otherwise become pests or cause diseases. RA is your
Read more

In Looking At The Crown Of Thorns, I Found The Clowns

Image
We could use a surprise sense of humor!  Yes, especially on the wide problematic fields of Agriculture. There was this news that some high PH government officials wanted to probe Vice President Leni Robredo for “competing against” PH agencies in providing much-needed assistances during this coronavirus lockdown, and Marigs Laririt shared a picture-story on Facebook quoting Ms Leni as saying, “I didn’t know it was competition. I didn’t see any competitors!” Ms Marigs says, “Ay, parang friends ko kung sumagot si Mam.” (Ay, with Mam, it’s just like my friends answering back.) That is a two-handed backslap, and you can imagine the lady laughing! She is the humor-monger; they are the clowns. Today is Friday, 03 April 2020 and in one account ( Wikipedia ), Friday the 3 rd of April was crucifixion of Jesus and his crowning of thorns [1] . (images: Crown of Thorns [2]  from St Anthony Messenger , 1 st clown [3]  from The Guardian , 2 nd clown [4]  from Shutterstock ) About the living clowns I
Read more

“Natural Farming” – Aggie Journalists, We Must Be Careful With The Terms We Use!

Image
Look at the contrasting images: Which one is correct in claiming what is being practiced is “natural farming”? Top Image: This one accompanies the Anonymous WWF-Philippines story, “Mindanao Farmers Start Off the Year with Natural Farming Systems Technology” published online December 2019 [1] . The World Wide Fund, WWF, is a very credible international source of knowledge on conservation, right? Not this time. Very clearly, you can see the white plastic mulch covering the furrows and bare soil in-between them. Mr or Ms Anonymous, the plastic mulch is not natural. The soil not covered in-between furrows is not natural. So much soil bare, not natural, allowing so much natural water wasted because it had evaporated from the unprotected, hot soil surface! That is not conservation; that is not natural. The term “natural” is used here very carelessly . Aggie journalists, wake up! How come I noticed all that immediately when I saw the photograph? Because I learned my organic farming more t
Read more