The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing to hire thousands of new workers as recently passed and upcoming laws are expected to significantly increase the demand for agriculture and animal science professionals.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA anticipates hiring around 20,000 agriculturists once a bill restoring agricultural extension workers to the department is approved. Each extension worker would oversee about 25 hectares and assist roughly 25 farmers.
In addition, the newly enacted Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act will require more veterinarians and graduates from related fields to help strengthen livestock systems.
To meet these needs, the DA has begun coordinating with the Commission on Higher Education. Tiu Laurel said he asked Chairwoman Shirley Agrupis to reinstate agriculturist courses in state universities, adding that she responded positively.
The hiring push comes shortly after the Professional Regulation Commission released new Agriculture Licensure Examination results, with 6,678 of 9,742 examinees passing. The DA hopes many of these new graduates will join the expanded workforce needed for agricultural modernization.
Tiu Laurel emphasized that rebuilding a national pool of extension workers—previously under local governments—will help the DA collect timely, accurate data from the field. Better data, he said, will allow faster responses to issues affecting farmers, fisherfolk, and others in the agriculture value chain.
He added that real-time information flowing into the DA’s command center will improve decision-making on programs such as seed and fertilizer distribution and monitoring of palay prices.
Agriculture makes up about 9 percent of the country’s GDP and employs one in five Filipinos. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has prioritized agricultural modernization to generate jobs, raise incomes, strengthen food security, and reduce reliance on imported food.
