This growing movement in the Philippines that I started in 2022 aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in agriculture by creating social media content. It highlights personal stories and experiences of both current students in agriculture-related degree programs and professionals working in the field.

In agriculture, farmers, dressed in rugged clothes, persistently tend to their paddy fields, facing the blazing sun day in and day out. As a child, this was my perception of agriculture, and even then, I harbored empathy for farmers; however, the thought of becoming one never crossed my young mind. “Who would want to have that as a profession? I would like to be rich!” As I delved into conversations with other youth, I realized that we share the same perception of agriculture. This negative perception romanticized by hard work and resiliency was already embedded in the DNA of the Filipino culture.

The consequence? Analysts anticipate that the Philippines will confront a severe deficit of farmers within the next 10 to 12 years, given that the typical age of Filipino farmers falls within the range of 55 to 59 years. This poses a significant challenge to attain food security (SEARCA, 2023). Less and less youth are interested in agriculture. 

Fast forward to 2023, little did I know that I would become a licensed agriculturist. The pandemic served as a catalyst for a revelation that would change the direction of my life—one with a purpose and a mission. I recognized that the primary reason for the lack of interest among Filipino youths in agriculture stems from a widespread lack of awareness regarding the opportunities it presents.

Thus, in 2022, I launched the Sprout Up Movement, a social initiative aimed at spotlighting personal narratives of individuals involved in the agricultural sector through social media. Its core mission is to rebrand agriculture and raise awareness that it encompasses various disciplines, including research, business, academia, corporate sectors, and farming.

During Philippine Agriculturists' Month, Sprout Up Philippines featured different faces in the field of agriculture as they shared their thoughts on the relevance of agriculture in our society. 
Here are some of their entries.

As the video entries from the Sprout Up Movement can be monetized in the future, I am also looking forward to helping agriculture students by funding their educational needs through a future program/initiative, which is the Sprout Up Educational Aid. One of the most eye-opening experiences for me has been witnessing some students struggle due to financial issues. I was one of those students. In my second year of college, I began working to support my educational needs, such as modules, printing, school supplies, and experiment materials. In addition to working part-time, I attempted to balance it with my academics.

Therefore, as a future impact, I dream of a Philippines where students are able to focus on their academics with few to no “other-things-but-needed” burdens on their plate.

We can do this. We can start now.