Agri-10 affirms support to NorMin young agripreneurs thru agribiz development capbuild

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In a bid to strengthen youth engagement in agribusiness, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (Agri-10) staged a Capacity Building Training and Workshop for Young Agripreneurs on August 18 to 20, this city.

Spearheaded by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the three-day activity gathered Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) awardees and young agripreneurs from Northern Mindanao to enhance their knowledge and skills in agribusiness development.

The training provided business development services such as mentoring, market linking and networking, and guidance on business and product registration and certification.

The initiative was anchored on the pressing concern of the aging farming population in the country. Based on the 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries, the number of agricultural operators rose to 7.41 million from 5.56 million in 2012. However, younger farmers aged 15 to 29 comprised only 8.9 percent of operators, while the majority were aged 30 and above, underscoring the need to encourage greater youth participation in agriculture.

Through this activity, DA-10 sought to promote agriculture as a viable and sustainable career by equipping participants with practical tools and opportunities for enterprise development. The YFC program continues to serve as a platform for aspiring agripreneurs nationwide, supporting youth-led ventures with grant assistance, capacity-building, and mentoring.

In his message, DA-10 RED Pacamalan lauded the efforts of the young agripreneurs for pursuing agriculture despite challenges in the sector. He stressed that the youth’s creativity and openness to innovation are crucial in transforming Philippine agriculture into a more competitive and sustainable industry.

He also assured the department’s continued support in providing opportunities and interventions to help young agripreneurs grow their enterprises, emphasizing that their success contributes to building a food-secure and progressive Northern Mindanao.

The training formed part of DA’s efforts to strengthen the participation of young agripreneurs in the agri-fishery sector in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ‘s Para sa Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas directive, to promote a food-secure nation by empowering farmers, fisherfolk, and agripreneurs, while enhancing Philippine agriculture competitiveness. # (EJLG)