NorMin young agripreneurs vie for 2025 YFC awards
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Aiming to boost innovation and enterprise development in the agri-fishery sector, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) gathered young agripreneurs from across Northern Mindanao for the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) 2025 business pitching held on October 28–29, this city.
The two-day event featured the presentation of agribusiness proposals from both start-up provincial-level and upscale regional-level contenders, highlighting the creativity, resourcefulness, and agri-entrepreneurial drive of the region’s youth.
15 start-up enterprises that participated at the provincial level include:
Production Category
*Oink Haven – Misamis Occidental
*Aliehsirk’s Chili Harvest – Misamis Occidental
*Melofresh – Misamis Occidental
*Cray Ground – Misamis Occidental
*Aquaharvest Tilapia Production – Misamis Oriental
*Sunnyquail – Misamis Oriental
*Somido Farm – Misamis Oriental
*The “No-Stink” Swine System: Enhancing Community and Comfort – Lanao del Norte
*CC Agri-Crop Production – Bukidnon
*Fin and Feathers Farm – Bukidnon
*JK Hog Fattening and Genetic Improvement Enterprise – Bukidnon
*Golden Goat Ranch – Bukidnon
Processing Category
*Northern Kuyamis Agricultural Ventures – Misamis Occidental
*Dragon’s Choice Route 955 – Misamis Oriental
*RNJ Savor Heritage – Bukidnon
*Meanwhile, enterprises that participated in the upscale regional judging include:
*Dream’s Arabica Coffee – 2023 YFC start-up provincial level awardee
*Procaffeinated Coffee – 2022 YFC start-up provincial level awardee
*Yanyen’s Food Product – 2021 YFC start-up provincial level awardee
Start-up applicants were evaluated based on entrepreneurial attributes, innovativeness of the business proposal, revenue stream, value addition, and social responsibility.
The upscale level were judged on the premised of creativity and business innovation, enterprise performance, social responsibility, business viability, and business sustainability.
Under the YFC program, provincial-level winners in the start-up category will receive a PhP80k grant to support the establishment and development of their proposed agribusiness ventures. Those who advance to the regional competition may receive an additional PhP150k, while the national-level winners can earn up to PhP300k in financial support.
For the upscale category, regional-level winners will be awarded PhP300k, and national-level winners may receive up to PhP500k to further expand their existing agribusiness enterprises.
The YFC Program, spearheaded by the DA – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) and implemented through the DA’s regional field office’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), aims to encourage the youth to engage in agriculture by providing financial and technical aid for proposed agri-enterprise projects.
The competition is open to Filipino youth aged 18 to 30 years old who are interested in pursuing agribusiness ventures — either as individuals or as a group — with viable proposals that contribute to local food production, value addition, and rural development.
Through this initiative, DA-10 AMAD enjoins the participants to continue their participation in agribusiness and strengthen their role in advancing the region’s agricultural sector.
This activity aligns with the directives of the current administration to promote youth engagement in agriculture and strengthen agripreneurship as a strategy toward achieving a food-secure and resilient Philippines. # (EJLG)
