Tags: Agribusiness
By Nikka Garriga
BAY, LAGUNA–After working for a few years as a mechanical engineer, Ramil Bonifacio once thought about shifting to another field of interest.
And like most young urban professionals of his generation, a career path in the agricultural industry isn’t exactly where his mind was set.
However, as if destiny had something much better to offer, Ramil was invited to join a multinational agrichemical corporation who was looking for someone outside the industry.
“At first I was hesitant and I remember having to ask them if they were certain because I haven’t even met a real farmer nor have been to a real rice farm at that time,” he shares.
He eventually managed to learn the ropes and 10 years later, he now sits as the first and only Filipino in the international board of Chinese agri-firm Sinochem.
“Getting into agriculture was the farthest thing on my mind then. But I learned that being in this field gives you a great sense of fulfillment knowing that what you do has a positive impact to us Filipinos particularly our farmers.”
Having risen from an engineer to an agricultural specialist, Ramil aims to encourage the skeptics as he once was that there is a lot more to this industry than meets the typical impression.
“Agriculture can be high-tech, innovative, challenging and exciting all at the same time especially for us Filipinos who have been gifted with ‘green’ fingers and toes,” he says.
One aspect that he would like to touch on among the youth today is the idea of nurturing and growing life from something as small as a seedling.
“Remember when you were made to observe how a monggo seed grows from a damp tissue as a kid? You would watch it progress day by day until a tiny leaf grows from its end? That’s how it is here in agriculture. It’s not just about hectares and hectares of land. It starts from a seed that you need to take care of which brings life to the people around you,” Ramil says.
(Photo from Sinochem Philippines)
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Rice planting technique increases yield for Kalinga farmers
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PH on track to meet rice self-sufficiency goals, says UN body
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Hello Andrew ,Sounds like you already have the plan you might be able to avoid going all the way into Tacloban City. If you have euognh gasoline just head directly to the San Juanico bridge and follow the western Highway to Catbalogan.Maybe the first ferry crossing between Allen and Matnog will be around 7 am not sure but there is a fresh boat taking off every hour or so up till 8 or 9 pm.happy tripdp