BUTUAN CITY -- A younger generation of farmers may soon be catapulting the agriculture sector of Caraga towards development.
This, after 75 budding entrepreneurs were recognized and awarded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga after besting 55 other applicants of the Young Farmers Challenge.
The Young Farmers Challenge is a competitive financial grant assistance program for the youth who will engage in agri-fishery based enterprises.
The program is open to all Filipino Youths aged 18-30 years old with proposed business ventures with profitability potential. The grants shall serve as start-up capital for the planned agri-based micro-enterprise that may be operated by an individual youth or as a joint venture between two or more individual youths.
In Caraga, a total of 130 aspiring young agripreneurs applied for the program and presented their Business Model Canvass and 75 were chosen as provincial awardees. Of the 75 youth beneficiaries, 30 are from Agusan del Norte, 25 from Agusan del Sur, 3 from Surigao del Norte, 11 from Surigao del Norte, and 6 from the Province of Dinagat Islands.
In a message, DA Secretary William D. Dar said that many of the youth nowadays are no longer interested in farming which puts food security at risk.
“I am overjoyed at the number of young farmers who joined the Young Farmers Challenge. The generation of young farmers are the future champions of Philippine agriculture,” the Secretary said.
In addition, Sec. Dar said that the DA will always provide support and craft policies and programs that will help and empower young farmers.
On the other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said that agriculture should be approached as agribusiness to make a bigger contribution to the economy.
The Young Farmer Challenge is in line with the DA’s Key Strategies in transforming Philippine agriculture particularly on youth engagement which aims to boost the youth’s involvement in agricultural programs and activities.
The provincial awarding of the Young Farmers Challenge was conducted via the virtual platform on October 13. (Vanessa P. Sanchez, DA13-RAFIS/PIA Caraga)
