Recent studies show that the average age of Filipino farmers is between 57 and 59 years old, raising concerns about the country’s food security.
This information has lit a fuse among local government agencies and other stakeholders in the agriculture industry to motivate the youth to begin their farming journey and explore its various opportunities.
Among these initiatives is the Young Farmers Challenge, which launched its third year last September 28 at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City.
The Young Farmers Challenge is a competitive financial grant assistance program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS), in collaboration with the office of Senator Imee R. Marcos and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), directed to the youth who will engage in new agri-fishery enterprises. The said grant will serve as a startup capital for their planned venture.
“May pera sa agrikultura. Kung marunong ka, pwede pa ring maging hanapbuhay ang pagtatanim at pagsasaka,” said Marcos, who was present during the launch.
Other notable attendees during the YFC launch include DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban, Oishi Assistant Vice President for Corporate Affairs Heinrich Cochien, San Miguel Corporation Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Planning and Corporate Affairs Group Tatish Palabyab, and Universal Robina Corporation Technical Director of Agro-Industrial Group Dante J. Palabrica.
Besides assisting young farmers to jumpstart their agri-fishery initiatives, the YFC 2023 is also open to all previous YFC awardees aspiring to scale up their current agribusiness operations by investing in new technologies, including product development, improving marketing platforms, and generating employment, among other innovations.
The YFC Upscale is a head-to-head business pitch competition with a financial grant of P300,000 for each regional winner and P500,000 for each national winner.
Since its first run in 2021, the YFC has produced winners among young Filipino farmers who have since established themselves in the industry through their products, with some already available for export.
Moreover, the YFC also opened its doors to a new component, the YFC Intercollegiate Competition, which will engage students taking agriculture and related courses in the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
According to Senator Marcos, a vital part of the criteria in choosing the winners for the program includes bringing new ideas to the table, like products, value-added or not, proper implementation of digital assets, and tapping into a new market, among other standards.
She added that there will also be an added focus on female and indigenous participants and those who will direct their efforts on fisheries and dairy production.
Senator Marcos added that they will announce the winners of the YFC 2023 late in November.
The YFC hopes to encourage a new breed of local farmers to begin their journey in the agriculture industry and eventually contribute to the country’s food security in the years to come.