DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 25 (PIA) -- The project proposals of four young agripreneurs in the province have qualified at the provincial level for Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Youth Farmers' Challenge: Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program.

This said program aims to provide financial grant assistance to youth interested in enterprises in the agri-fishery sector.

DA seeks to usher back the youth to agriculture, and engage them in activities and processes related to farming and fishing.

This initiative also encourages and motivates the young people to put up ventures in line with agricultural development and food production.

The qualified participants have submitted their Business Model Canvas (BMC) which showed the profitability potentials of the enterprises they to venture into.

The young competitors include Hanebal Elara, 26, Malaiba, Canlaon City who presented a BMC on peanut production to peanut butter processing; Reynold Dedales, 28, Tayawan, Bayawan City with the PANDE-Pig Grower as his BMC; Jocelyn Granaderos, 29, of Bio-os, Amlan who presented her Mini-Piggery and Meat Shop; and Ed Paul Abil, 26, Looc, Sibulan for his Cattle and Goat Production through the Implementation of Lean Production System.

Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service Division Focal Person Rosalinda Cafe said the "Young Farmers Challenge: Kabataang Agribiz" is a program that encourages the youth to shift interest, engage and venture into agriculture and agribusiness while still young.

Youth competitor Granaderos thanked DA for coming up with the said program that will help motivate the youth like her, who have great ideas on business planning but no financial capacity to start up an agribusiness enterprise.

The winner in the provincial level will receive P50,000 and will qualify in the regional level competition. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from DA)