Young farmers pitch innovations for nat’l grants in Iloilo tilt
ILOILO CITY — More than 100 young agricultural entrepreneurs from 16 regions have gathered in Iloilo City for the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) National Pitching Competition, where millions of pesos in grants are up for grabs.
Running from April 20 to 24, the event features a high-stakes pitching competition, a business conference, and a national awarding ceremony. It brings together 64 national finalists who advanced through provincial and regional rounds, where they received mentorship, training, and initial funding support.
The finalists will present their agribusiness proposals to a panel of experts and industry leaders, competing for financial grants to launch or expand their ventures.
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The 64 entries are divided into three categories: 35 under Start-Up, 15 under Up-Scale, and 14 under Intercollegiate.
Under the DA’s incentive program, 15 winners in the Start-Up Category will receive ₱300,000 each, while 15 winners in the Up-Scale Category and 14 in the Intercollegiate Category will each receive ₱500,000 in grant assistance.
Department of Agriculture–Western Visayas (DA-WV) Regional Executive Director Dennis R. Arpia welcomed the delegates, emphasizing their role in sustaining the country’s food systems.
“This is an opportunity not only to showcase your capabilities, but also to demonstrate your commitment to a sector that remains a pillar of our economy,” Arpia said.
DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Atty. Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, who also heads the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program, praised the participants for reaching the national stage, noting that their innovation and drive already make them standouts.
She underscored the role of young farmers as key drivers of nation-building and innovation in agriculture.
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The Young Farmers Challenge aims to develop a new generation of agripreneurs equipped to make Philippine agriculture more sustainable, resilient, and globally competitive.
Winners will be announced during the awarding ceremony on April 23 at the Iloilo Convention Center./coa
