News Details

More Igorot Youth Embrace Agriculture as BSU Enrollment Continues to Rise

NPO

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November 18, 2025

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Interest in agriculture among Igorot youth is steadily increasing, as shown by the growing number of students enrolling in agriculture-related programs at Benguet State University (BSU).

Dr. Constantino Sudaypan, dean of the BSU College of Agriculture, said in a media interview on Tuesday that enrollment trends remain positive.

“Unlike other universities that have only one section per year level, we continue to maintain two sections each, and enrollment shows a modest but consistent increase,” he said.

This trend, Sudaypan noted, reflects the deep-rooted connection of the Igorot community to agriculture — a sector that has long sustained Benguet and surrounding regions. Benguet supplies at least 85 percent of the country’s highland vegetable requirements, much of which is shipped to Metro Manila, Visayas, and other parts of Luzon.

Sudaypan said more students are attracted to agriculture as the curriculum integrates modern entrepreneurial components such as agri-tourism, which adds value and real-world relevance to the course.

BSU has also expanded its academic offerings, now providing Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Entrepreneurship, both with two sections per year level. Curriculum enhancements and stronger field exposure remain key priorities.

“Our students are deployed as interns in local government units and various national agencies supporting agriculture. This immersion prepares them for real-world work and strengthens their commitment to the sector,” the dean added.

He emphasized that agriculture remains a profession of enduring importance.
“Agriculture is the past, the present, and the future — as long as people need food, the profession will always be essential,” he said.

Sudaypan also shared stories of students who took agriculture as a second option after not qualifying for other courses like Nursing or Engineering. Many of them eventually excel, graduating with honors or topping licensure examinations.

The rising demand for agricultural professionals is also evident in the number of workers from other fields shifting to agriculture.

One such example is licensed social worker Aida Pagtan, who pursued agriculture after working with Department of Agriculture–affiliated agencies.

“Agriculture is not just tilling the land. It requires understanding soil, insects, pests, plants, and how they coexist harmoniously,” Pagtan explained.

She added that modern agriculture also involves marketing, packaging, and building institutional partnerships to meet market standards and supply volume.

“Agriculture requires science, and the course teaches exactly that,” she said.

Pagtan also highlighted the evolution of farms into agri-tourism sites, eco-agri farms, and agricultural learning centers — developments that broaden opportunities for graduates and communities alike.

NPO News Team | PNA-PR