Youth encouraged to go into agribusiness
BANKING on the innovativeness and aggressive drive of the youth, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has launched a program that will encourage them to be more competitive in agribusiness.
According to Secretary William Dar, the Kabataang Agribiz provides young Filipinos financial aid to support them in establishing enterprises and focus on crop and livestock production, fisheries, trading, processing, integrated farming, agricultural technology and similar endeavors.
Developed through the guidance of the DA chief with the support of Senator Imee Marcos, Kabataang Agribiz aims to give the younger generation a push to enable them to put up ventures in line with agricultural development and food production.
The new thinking of the Filipino youth he added, will definitely make agriculture sustainable adding that the new program seeks to usher back the youth to agriculture, and engage them in activities and processes related to farming and fishing.
“The young people chose to leave rural areas to pursue more lucrative jobs on commercial centers. Upang masolusyunan ang problemang ito, gumawa ang DA ng program para sa kabataang Pilipino upang makapagsimula sila ng kanilang agribusiness sa production, value-adding, innovation, at iba pa,” Secretary Dar said.
With a total grant value of P74 million, the program is open to all interested natural-born Filipino youth ages 18-30 who must be ready and willing to engage in agriculture and fishery business enterprise.
Both in and out of school youth applicants will be entertained, however, those with experience and related training informal or non-formal settings will be preferred. Groups and associations are also encouraged to join provided that they meet the qualifications set by DA.
Qualified applicants must send their Business Model Canvas (BMC) with potential profit to the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service of the DA Central Office and to the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division in the regional offices.
“The main objective of this initiative is to encourage and motivate the young Filipinos to go back into farming and so we want to ensure that we give them assistance every step of the way,” Agribusiness and Marketing Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista said.
