What does it take to be an agronomist and what lies ahead of him or her?

By Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, Past President, Visayas State University

Here are important figures to us:

·       a) In 2017, the total paddy rice output of the Philippines met 93% of the country's annual requirement. The population consumed 11.7 million tons of rice. (usual shortage of 10% and brown rice/rice bran solution).

·       b) In 2016, for every 17 births per 1000 population there were 6 deaths per 1000 population. Every minute, 2.8 Filipinos are born. Every 10 or 11 minutes, we need one new classroom and down the road each of these kids will consume 120 kg of rice per year. (why is Philippine presidency such a contested and contentious position?)

(“ang ginoo pito ra kaadlaw nagbuhat ug yuta pero ang tawo walay hunong himo ug bata”-Gov. RE Lerias)

·       c) All of the scenarios of future climate change (CC) point to increase the estimates of the number of people at risk from hunger. (ascribing everything to climate change)

This country is therefore in dire need of professionals who study plants and work for increasing their production in an economical and environmentally sustainable fashion. Mind you, it is not only this country, but the whole world. Who are these professionals?

Used to be in the 1970’s and earlier, there was not much specialization. When it was plant, agronomists took care of it. Thus, an agronomist takes care of management: soil, pest and other growth and production issues in the field. I remember that there were only agronomy, animal science, agricultural education and home science as major fields in this campus. (lots of field work/learning by working, Agric was looked down).

Later, when Visayas Agricultural College (VAC) became a state college (ViSCA), other specializations were introduced such as arts and letters, ag. engineering, ag. economics, ag. chemistry, plant protection, plant breeding, forestry, vet. medicine grew out of animal science, ag. extension and dev. communication grew out of ag. education, food tech grew out of home science, and horticulture grew out of agronomy and, soil science was added to the agronomy department. Specializations are important for us to grow.

In the latter years of my term as president of this university, we had to “handle with care” a formal divorce of agronomy and soil science.  (jurisdiction and property distribution were quite tricky and sensitive to handle but they can’t go back living together again). 

VSU agronomists conducting a field experiment

All these specializations somehow delimit the scope of work agronomists are expected to deliver professionally. However, specialization did not and will not limit farmers’ expectations from an agronomist and other agriculture-related graduates from this university. In our national context where an agronomist most likely find himself/herself engaging with farmers alone in the field, an agronomist is also expected to be a good soil scientist, farm economist, horticulturist, plant breeder, communicator and even good in animal production, aquaculture and forestry or NRM to name some. To farmers, an agronomist is an “agriculturist”- an embodiment of expert. (McCoy and Ormoc rice farmers, Roy and cassava growers)

What does this tell you?

Do not limit yourself to knowing only field crops and cultural management practices. Endeavor to know and master beyond crop science. I recently analyzed the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) that governs offering of agriculture and observed that the prescribed curriculum provides graduates the sciences needed for one to become a good agriculturist (but good is not enough). However, the CMO doesn’t preclude us from adding additional fundamental and major courses especially that now, some of the general education courses have been downloaded to senior high.

I will not interfere in the plans of this department, but I personally still subscribe to a 4-year BSA major in Agronomy curriculum rather than the 12+3. With the growing demand for climate SMART and precision agriculture, agriculturists need more mapping techniques, advance soil study techniques and even more understanding in biotechnology and IT. (possible from cross enrolment in the fourth year)

Furthermore, the CMO does not preclude our agronomy professors to deliver the course in a more advanced and exciting manner that student will endeavor to learn as much as possible in the course and not endeavor to end their suffering as soon as possible from taking their courses. This can only happen if professors in this department will engage in research/driven by discovery, extension work and actual farming. (farming lessons on seeds and weeding)

Specialization is usually overcome by collaboration or partnership but, it will be hard for anyone to collaborate/partner with someone who doesn’t have anything (absolute provision). If you don’t have anything other disciplines can offer, without your partners/collaborators, you will be paralyzed/inutile and unable. A person is appreciated and recognized usually when he can deliver more than what is expected of him. (basketball experience)

So, to faculty members and students, make BSA major in agronomy broad and exciting by learning beyond your coursework and collaborating with other specialists. For example, it will not be bad if some of you do research involving drones and high spectral cameras for field observation and management delivery. It will be exciting to see our agronomy students study how to use GPS and make or handle GIS maps as tractors are now equipped with GPS, and future tractors will be dominated with robotics. It will be great to see our agronomy students use plant or crop physiology study sensors, do genetic modification in their thesis or deal with soil problems as it affects field crops. Clearly for this to happen, there is a need for different specializations to relax, weaken and render more permeable the boundaries of various specializations of agriculture in this university and allow greater collaboration.

So, what’s the future of agronomists?

Let me say that the future of this country and this world depends on the agronomists. Agriculture is the backbone of this country and we need to feed and clothe an ever growing population. Agronomists are simply crucial to pulling off the job.

However, they should not be agronomists as usual. There is a saying that “a solution should measure up to the problem”. The problem of food and resources in this country has become more difficult and complex that the new breed of agronomists should be armed with complex knowledge and skills. With appropriate knowledge and skills, an agronomist will be potent and can go “places”. Short of this, an agronomist is doomed to be unexciting and lame.

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Excerpt of the speech delivered during the acquaintance program, Department of Agronomy, VIsayas State University, on 31 August 2018.