Let the competition begin!

This year’s Batch 2024 Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) National Competition of the Department of Agriculture (DA) formally opens this morning, July 14, at the Newtown Hotel, Leonard Wood Road, Baguio City.

The YFC, which was launched in 2021, is an innovative program of the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) which encourages the younger individuals to engage into agriculture and fishery enterprises, a pivotal mark towards showcasing agriculture as a viable industry serving as a primary source of income that is comparable to employment in industry or service sectors.

Hosted by the DA-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the national event gathered at least 300 participants composed primarily of young agri-preneurs, and representatives from the local government units, private partners, Office of Sen. Imee Marcos, and key personnel from the DA-AMAS and Regional Field Offices. This year, there are a total of 80 YFC national finalists who are set to personally pitch their business model canvasses (BMCs) under production, processing (food and non-food), and digital technology categories. Specifically, there are 34 national contenders for Start-Up Category, 15 for Upscale, and 15 for Intercollegiate Category.

The panel of judges for each category are composed of experts from the DA-AMAS, Dept. of Trade and Industry, and Dept. of Science and Technology including business practitioners and experts from the private sector.

In her welcome message, DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan warmly welcomed the participants in the vibrant City of Pines.

“The Young Farmers Challenge is more than just a contest – it is a movement. A movement that ignites the role of the youth in agriculture. It is a platform that empowers you to transform ideas into thriving agri-enterprises and assures you that you are not alone in this journey,” RED Dawayan underscored.

She recognized that the works of the young agri-preneurs – whether they win or not – contribute to food security, empower local economies, and shatter the outdated views on farming. RED Dawayan added that agriculture is not only physical labor but a mix of science, business, legacy and passion. Hence, the YFC competition is not the finish line but a milestone that is set to ignite deeper passion of the young agri-preneurs, build stronger networks, and sharpen their vision.

Moreover, Atty. Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing and Consumer Affairs, in her keynote message, appreciated the YFC as a good initiative of the DA which was also made possible through the support of Sen. Imee Marcos.

“YFC is not just a grant competition, it is a platform for transformation turning young people’s ideas into enterprises and their dreams into legacies. It gives our youth access to capital, mentorship and networks, and agri-entrepreneurship,” Asec. Guevarra highlighted.

With the YFC already on its fourth year of implementation, Engr. Anne Glyn Lisbo, Chief of the AMAS-Agribusiness Investment and Promotions Services, said that the Program has already produced a total of 4,313 young agri-preneurs in the country, which accordingly have become reliable partners of the DA and other national government agencies in agricultural development.

The national competition will be conducted until July 16 in time for the most-awaited Awarding Ceremony on July 17 at the Baguio Convention Center. Aside from the competition, there will also be a business innovation tour and business networking session for the participants. //JBAgrifino 📷Cy-j E. Waytan

DA-CAR Press Release No. 25-138
#DACARabovePAR
#YoungFarmersChallengeProgram