DA gives financial grant to 2,955 youth farmers

SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD Farmers at Barangay Manambong Sur in Bayambang, Pangasinan, harvest their onions to save the crops from being destroyed by armyworms in this photo taken on Feb. 17, 2022. The Department of Agriculture recently gave a total of 2,955 youth farmers cash aid for their agribusiness proposals. —WILLIE LOMIBAO

MANILA, Philippines — In line with the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Youth Farmers’ Challenge (YFC), a total of 2,955 youth farmers received cash aid for their agribusiness proposals, according to the agency on Friday.

“The  government is banking on the innovativeness and out-of-the box ideas of the young Filipinos to ensure food sustainability as well as the creation of opportunities in the agribusiness  across the country,” said the DA in a statement.

The challenge by the  DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service  aimed to incentivize young farmers to engage in agri-business.

“Aside from financial grants, the participants receive business development services to advance their understanding of agriculture and agribusiness management,” said the agency.

The young farmers will also have credit access to the DA’s Agricultural Credit Policy Council’s, Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs, and Agri-Negosyo Loan Programs.

One of the alumni of the YFC program is Eldrin Lee, the founder of Nama Microgreens, which is an urban farming program to help build a sustainable food system including food production, processing, distribution and consumption with emphasis on product quality and customer service.

Nama received P100,000 for the YFC during the provincial level and then P150,000 on the regional level.

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JPV