MAKING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL AGRICULTURIST
by RUBEN C. SEVILLEJA
President, Central Luzon State University
Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija
Philippines

(Speech delivered as Guest of Honor and Speaker during the Oath Taking Ceremonies of New Professional Agriculturists held at the Manila Hotel on January 23, 2010)

The honorable members of the Board of Agriculture of the Professional Regulation Commission headed by the Chair, Dr. Fortunato A. Battad; our honorees, the new Agriculture Technologists; proud family members; guests; friends, ladies and gentlemen, Good Afternoon.

Thank you very much for that very kind introduction, Dr. Battad, Sir. That was very humbling. I never imagined that I’d be introduced by you in a formal occasion such as this. For the information of everyone, Dr. Battad, now the President Emeritus of the Central Luzon State University, gave me the biggest break in my professional career when he designated me as Vice President for Academic Affairs of CLSU in 1998. He has been a mentor and a role model. Every now and then, he volunteers his insights and nuggets of wisdom which I consider very important, coming from a seasoned and highly respected administrator and institution builder like him.
I am truly honored and privileged to have been invited as Guest of Honor and Speaker during this oath taking ceremonies. I am aware that you are being sworn in as Professional Agriculturists by accreditation; that is, without examination. You must and should indeed be very proud of your notable achievement. Although I am aware of the rigors, hardships and anxieties than one experiences as a taker of a licensure examination, becoming a Professional Agriculturist without examination is no ordinary feat either; it is an equally outstanding achievement because it is the result of a long, productive career in the field of agriculture and allied sciences. But whether it is by examination or not, there is a commonality between the two: it is the result of hard work, discipline, determination, dedication, and a strong desire to succeed.
Why would one aspire to become a licensed professional, much more a licensed Agriculturist? There are many reasons for seeking to become one. For some it represents achievement of a career goal while for others, it represents a credential necessary to perform their job. In simple terms, it is a requirement to be engaged in a salaried or remunerated occupation or activity. For example, professional athletes like PBA players are paid salaries because that is their profession. We also recognize that being a professional provides for a definitive minimum standard of knowledge, experience and education thereby fostering recognition or acceptance as well-educated and experienced, acting in the best interest of the public.
A professional license likewise serves as a mark of accomplishment. When you work as a professional agriculturist, you should be recognized as such. It provides a measure of status and credibility among your peers. Becoming a Agriculture Technologist may also provide personal satisfaction. Depending on the employer, one may likely earn more money if he or she is licensed.
Becoming an Agriculturist also means continuing professional development and career advancement. It will help you get a job, a secure tenure of appointment, or a well deserved promotion. By becoming an Agriculturist is a manifestation that you are interested in agriculture as a profession—it is not just a job. In a competitive marketplace, this dedication may set you apart from others. Since some employers require a license for hiring and promotion, agriculture professionals have a greater range of career opportunities. It provides an extra measure of credibility within and outside the profession and may benefit you in the performance of your job. With more Agriculturists, the status of agriculture professionals within the workplace and society at-large is promoted. Some in the profession have complained that we are not held in high regard as those who work in other professions. Others point out that being an Agriculturist is not recognized by some employers because you don’t need one to perform well in your job. Worse, there are also those who suggest that a professional license in not necessary to succeed in once profession; apparently, it is also one of the reasons why there is a dwindling enrolment in agriculture courses; that it is irrelevant in the light of the many problems which beset our agriculture industry and the environment. I do not share these views. I say that this sets you apart from the other professionals; that you belong to a select few; which makes you a special group, having been bestowed with the enormous responsibility of protecting, conserving and sustaining the economic yet sustainable utilization of our vast agriculture and natural resources.
Allow me to give emphasis to the definition of a professional as someone engaged in one of the learned professions. This connotes having the skills, the expertise, and the knowledge in one’s chosen profession, in your case, the agriculture profession. I emphasize knowledge because we all know the power that emanates from knowledge. Never is the age-old saying “Knowledge is Power” been so true and relevant as it is today. Whereas before, land and the other natural resources were the primary sources of wealth, and muscles and brawn were crucial production factors; today, knowledge, technology and brainwork are being recognized as the main creators of wealth, a phenomenon known as the Knowledge-based Economy. Just what is knowledge – based economy? In its more understandable and widely-used definition, knowledge-based economy or KBE is the “generation and utilization of knowledge for the creation of wealth”. Knowledge, as embodied in human beings or human capital and in technology, has become central to economic development in many economically advanced and technologically developed countries.

The Philippines as envisioned by government, must become a knowledge center. As we evolve towards a knowledge-based economy, building up our human capital is a necessary requisite. Hence, professionalizing our manpower resources is part of our overall strategic direction. Our country has some assets which we can capitalize on in order to achieve progress. We have an expanding economy; we have a young population making up a workforce whose capabilities can be quickly enhanced. Technologies and appropriate information are available. In general, our institutions of higher learning are capable of delivering quality and relevant education. In short, we must actively participate in the on-going knowledge revolution, face up to the challenges of the times, and take advantage of the opportunities in order to achieve the goal of national development.

I have been in government service for 35 years. My academic training was in agriculture but I became a Licensed Fisheries Technologists. Agriculture was not my original choice as a course. How I ended up at CLSU taking up agriculture as a degree is an interesting story. Becoming a fisheries professional is again an entirely different story in itself. But I have no regrets. In fact, I am most thankful for the turn of events in my professional career. My agriculture degree led me to become a Professional Fisheries Technologist. My modest successes and accomplishments have all been due to my academic preparation and professional growth. Educational professional advancement had come my way; opportunities for travel abroad have presented themselves; recognition have been accorded; greater duties and responsibilities have been entrusted; and above all, satisfaction and fulfillment have been attained.

As professionals, more specifically as Agriculturists, all these will come your way. But they will not be offered to you on a silver platter. You must be familiar with the magical phrase “I have a dream..” uttered by Martin Luther King Jr. to turn the fortunes of blacks in America. To me, these four words signify the breaking away from the ordinary. It means having great belief and conviction in one’s thoughts and deeds; in one’s vision and ambition.

We all have aspirations. Awakening this dream is what makes the difference; its realization is subject to willing ourselves to reach greater heights, pushing aside hurdles and hardships. My own life, my own career advancement and professional growth, and yours as well, had not been without adversities. It is how you face up to these that matters. Obviously, you should consider adversities as challenges. Make things happen by believing in yourself. Believe that impossible is nothing. As PLDT Chair Manuel V. Pangilinan declared: “Whatever you may wish to do with your future, you can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but morning always comes”.

You may not be aware of it, but you and I are very much a part of an on-going knowledge revolution. This war is against economic and intellectual poverty, not just material poverty, but a poverty that is bred by inequality of opportunities, irrelevance of what is being taught, an utter disregard to what is happening around us, and general indifference to the future of the Filipino nation. This war can be won by a well informed citizenry, well versed in our culture, possessing the right knowledge, equipped with the necessary skills and expertise, and possessing the ability and willingness to work as a nation.

Parallel with these are the challenges that face agriculture today and in the future. The principal reason that industrial agriculture has been so successful in securing food availability in the past, is that our planet earth has been blessed with cheap energy, abundant water, and relatively stable climate. That rosy landscape is undergoing rapid and significant changes and is poised to endanger food security and undermine environmental sustainability in the future.

Cheap energy is a thing in the past. The transition from stored energy to current energy will be particularly difficult to our food system. Oil and natural gas have provided almost all the energy sources used in modern agriculture system. The diminishing energy will make it extremely difficult to maintain business as usual on the farm.

Ecological degradation which, ironically much of it is caused by industrial agricultural practice, threatens agricultural productivity. Groundwater resources are being depleted in areas where they are most needed, but excessive where they are not. Climate change will produce more unstable weather and the loss of both genetic and biological diversity has reduced the earth’s capacity for self-renewal and self-regulation. All these factors that threaten the sustainability of our modern food system are symptoms of the deteriorating ecosystems that serve as the foundation of all food systems.

As Professional Agriculturists, we have a significant role to play in meeting these challenges – in many ways: through R&D, through education, by influencing policy, by being champions and advocates. In other words, by simply being Professionals.

Your profession is an honorable one. While it has its rewards, it carries with it a heavy responsibility. Let us be true to our pledge, act in the true sense of being a professional, and most importantly, get productively involved for the betterment of farmers, of our community, our society and our country.

Congratulations to the new Professional Agriculturists! Thank you very much.