Sarangani young farmer-aspirants join DA’s Young Farmers Challenge

 

ALABEL, Sarangani -- To encourage the youth to engage more in agriculture and agri-fishery enterprises, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has initiated a Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) program which is a search for outstanding youth agri-business models in the Philippines.

The program aims to give young people the tools and opportunities they need to start their own profitable agri-fishing businesses. They would also promote agri-fishery enterprise business models to show how viable agri-based enterprises can be as a sustainable alternative to urban-based employment.

On July 21, some 16 young farmer-aspirants, consisting of eight individuals and eight groups from all over Sarangani, participated in the YFC 2022, where they presented their business model canvas (BMC).

The presentations were evaluated by Maria Katrina Gumayan of DTI Sarangani; Felicidad P. Into of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Council XII; Rosita T. Rizaldo, Director for Resource Generation, Sultan Kudarat State University; Simona P. Dela Cruz, Career Development and Management Specialist Head, DA XII-Agricultural Training Institute; and Percy Suyo, Agriculturist II, DA-Regional Field Office XI.

Leah Catherine Magaway, YFC Market Specialist II, said the program is open to anyone aged 18 to 30 years old with agriculture and fishery experience or related training and must be ready to venture into agriculture and fishery business enterprise.

She explained that all of the proposals are for start-up capital for a planned innovative agri-based micro-enterprise run by an individual or a joint venture of at least two individual youth.

Inocencio Morales, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist-Kabataang Agribiz focal person, disclosed that from among the presenters from the different provinces and cities in Region 12, the DA XII will be selecting only 35 individuals and 44 group presenters who will be presenting at the regional level.

Individual presenters who will advance will be granted P50,000. Group presenters will receive P100,000 worth of agricultural assistance.

Engr. Agnes Du, Assistant Provincial Agriculturist, was also present during the event and encouraged the participants to further their passion for farming.

The participants expressed their gratitude to the Local Government of Sarangani headed by Governor Rogelio "Ruel" D. Pacquiao, Congressman Steve Chiongbian Solon, Vice Governor Elmer T. De Peralta, and the rest of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members for "giving space to young individuals who have the heart for agriculture and fisheries." (Joshua John S. Pantonial and photos by Jake T. Narte/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

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