The Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), recognized the 35 finalists for the 2022 National Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) and awarded P300,000 cash grant to each of the top 12 outstanding agribusiness models on December 15, 2022.
The awardees were evaluated in terms of their entrepreneurial attributes, innovativeness of business proposal, potential for generating revenue stream, value addition, and social responsibility.
The 2nd National Young Farmers Summit and Awarding Ceremony was held in Ilocos Norte with the theme, “Mag-Agri Tayo! Ang makabagong ideya at pamamaraan ng Kabataang Magsasaka ang susi tungo sa pagpapaunlad ng pambansang agrikultura.”
DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Kristine Evangelista, Ilocos Regional Field Office Director Annie Bares, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Manotoc, and Guest of Honor Senator Imee Marcos led the awarding ceremony.
“Ako’y naniniwala na sa pamamagitan ng pagsasama-sama ng mga kabataan at ng matatandang magsasaka, maari nating gawin ang mga bagay na iniisip lamang. Sa inyong lahat na kabataan, ako’y naniniwala na sa inyong kamay magsisimula ang aking sinasabing [pagbabago],” Undersecretary Panganiban said.
He added that the DA’s YFC Program in partnership with the Office of Senator Marcos is a good example of a government program that understands the youth, their needs, and their important role for the country’s development. Thus, the DA will continue implementing the program.
“Ipagpatuloy niyo ang adbokasiyang ito na pinasimulan ko nung 2021 upang makatulong sa mga minimithi katulad ng food security at pagbangon ng ekonomiya ng bansa sa gitna ng epekto ng pandemya. Inaasahan kong magsisilbing inspirasyon ang YFC sa iba pang kabataang Pinoy na maging entrepreneur sa agrikultura gamit ang mga modernong equipment at digital technology para mapalago ang inyong ani at kita,” Senator Marcos said in a message read by Assistant Secretary Evangelista.
The following are the top 12 outstanding youth agribusiness models:
Production Category
• Frugies de Locale (Cordillera Administrative Region)
• Am-Iyoung’s Yuyu Farm (Cordillera Administrative Region)
• Ali-lapia (Region VI)
• Grace Hills Vineyard and Vegetable Farm (Region XI)
• Abanse: NPK (Region VI)
• Solar-Powered Urban Fishery – High Density Production Module (Cordillera Administrative Region)
Processing Category
• Green Banana Flour: The Next Superfood (Region XII)
• Nutripage Food Products (Region IV-B)
Digital Agriculture Category
• Icarus Agri-Tech (Region VI)
• AIRIN Innovations (Region II)
Supply Chain Business Solution Category
• Taboan Agricultural Products Trading (Region VIII)
• Anita’s (Region VI)
The YFC 2022 National Panel of Judges include Senator Marcos, Assistant Secretary Evangelista, UPLB Assistant Professor Renen Szilardo De Guzman, SOPHIL President Jaydrick Johnson Yap, Resto PH President Eric Teng, SINAG President Rosendo So, and Senator Marcos Chief of Staff Elizabeth Quisumbing.
Zagana Founder/CEO Joshua Aragon, Agbeam Farms Founder/President Luis Macalincag, Greenlife Coconut Products CEO Frances Rubio, GRM International President Paul Andre Martires and ARTFARM Manager Arturo Tolentino served as National Coaches. They were also joined by Asian Institute of Artificial Intelligence President Dennis Franco Layug, Systems Application Development Division Assistant Chief Darlene Abainza, Dr. Ramon Yedra, and Coconut Lambanog Distillers Association President Alfredo Amorado as National Coaches.
Through the YFC Program, the DA also offers business development services assistance to the youth including training programs and assistance in business and product registration and certification, mentoring assistance, market linking and business networking, and monitoring and enterprise assessment. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)
