LAGAWE, Ifugao(PIA)-- Three young Ifugao agri-prenuers  are among the national finalists from the Cordillera Region for the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) under the Department of Agriculture-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD).

Lovely Joy Paddapad, John Mark Daping, and Josephine Guimangal of Am-Iyoung’s Yuyu Farm Enterprise are among those that underwent the final phase for the selection of 12 Outstanding Youth Agri-Business Models that will vie for the additional financial grant of P300, 000 per enterprise.

In an interview, Guimangal explained why they chose Yuyu (Japanese Loach) as their business product.

“Aside from the yuyu being an exotic delicacy and a potential source of income, we chose yuyu as our enterprise in order to address the increasing demands for yuyu. This is also a way of preserving the endangered Japanese loach in hopes to increase yuyu cultivators, preserve our rich cultural heritage, encourage the younger generation of farmers to work in the field to utilize the idled or abandoned rice terraces, and boost tourism through the restoration of the endangered loach in the rice terraces,” said Guimangal.

 “Basically, this is not just for us, but for the betterment of the community and the farmers as a whole,” she added.

The group received a P100, 000.00-worth cash grant for their start-up or additional capital for their business venture during the provincial-level competition, and P150, 000 cash prize at the regional level.

Meanwhile, DA- CAR Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Chief Susan Balanza encouraged the competitors as the competition is a good opportunity for the Young agri-prenuers (Yaggies) to help society by generating more jobs with their businesses. She also challenged the YFC grantees to keep growing their enterprise whether they win or not.

The Young Farmers Challenge seeks to encourage the youth to engage in agriculture and agri-fishery enterprises through a competitive grant assistance program. This was first launched in 2021 through the DA-AMAD.   

The contest is open to   youths  ages 18-30 years old with proposed agri-business ventures which are innovative and with viability potential. (JDP/FBR-PIA CAR, Ifugao)# Photo: DA-CAR