1. ROLE OF YOUNG FARMERS IN FAMILY FARMING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES BY MARIA LUISA GAVINO (WOCAN)

2. SETTING THE STAGE  Sixty percent of the world’s rural population is made up of the youth, with ½ of them being young women and girls & nicely put “rural youth today, farmers tomorrow” ref. IFAD 4 th Global Farmers’ Forum, 2012.  The Philippines is basically an agricultural country and would belong to where 85% are family farmers.  The situation of today’s youth shows rural to urban migration. In the Philippines, its more than urban migration but immigration for better opportunities abroad.

3. INNOVATION AND PREPAREDNESS  The Philippines has abundant fields with nearby white sand beaches. The country caters to tourists, both local and foreign.  The trend has been that the family farms is to produce for the tourists (Agro-tourism).  This augments the family’s income and there is an incentive for the young farmer to innovate, compete and comply with quality standards.

4. SUSTAINABLE & STRATEGIC POLICY INTERVENTIONS  Profitable economic opportunity and attractive and enabling environment  Youth have to be active participants in farmers’ organizations or be organized themselves  Support to producer cooperatives  Zoning intervention  Agro-ecological education

5. SUSTAINABLE & STRATEGIC POLICY INTERVENTION (CONT’D.)  More of national, regional and global thematic events focused on the youth  Psychological support and start-up assistance to displaced family farm members

6. GOOD POLICY &BEST PRACTICE  Task Force Mapalad, a national federation of farmers, farm workers and individuals for land tenure, farm productivity and enterprise development  Youth are a special target esp. in linkages to markets, in Farmer Field Schools and farm technology trainings  2,149 graduates in last 5 years  Support to youth engaged in enterprise development activities, eg. Sugar-cane processing

7. MESSAGE TO IYFF  MARGINALIZED WOMEN AND YOUTH SHOULD BE MADE TO PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING PROGRAMS AND POLICIES IN THE LOCAL LEVEL AND  BE REPRESENTED IN THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL AGRO-ECOLOGICAL FORA.

8. INVEST ON YOUNG FARMERS TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S FOOD SECURITY

9. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY