Agri-NorMin holds YFC Start-Up Category regional level judging

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), staged the Regional Level Judging for the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) 2025 Start-Up Category on Monday, February 9, this city.

The activity gathered provincial awardees from across Northern Mindanao who advanced to the regional screening following their respective provincial-level competitions. The initiative aims to support young agripreneurs by providing financial and technical assistance to help establish or scale up their agri-fishery enterprises.

Regional qualifiers who emerged as 2025 provincial awardees include:

Bukidnon
• JK Hog Fattening and Genetic Improvement Enterprise
• RNJ Savor Heritage
• The Golden Goat Ranch
• Fin and Feathers Farm
• RnR Hydroponics Fresh Flow Greens
• Resilient, Available, Innovative, Sustainable Development Approach in Producing Tilapia (RAISDA)

Misamis Oriental
• Amigos Bakbak-Kokak Farming
• Gingoog Banana Crisp
• Frescura Zest

Misamis Occidental
• Cray Ground
• Ecobroiler Project

Lanao del Norte
• The No-Stink Swine System; Enhancing Community and Comfort

Camiguin
• CrispyCove

Participants were evaluated by a panel of judges based on entrepreneurial attributes, innovativeness, business revenue stream, value addition, and social responsibility. The regional judging serves as a platform to recognize promising youth-led enterprises and prepare them for higher-level competition.

Regional finalists will receive a financial grant of PhP150k as capital to implement or expand their agri-fishery enterprises, and a chance to represent the region at the YFC start-up category national-level competition, where winners are set to receive an additional PhP300k in grant as the DA’s support for their enterprise’s operations.

The YFC program is part of the Department’s broader efforts to empower young agripreneurs, enhance rural entrepreneurship, and contribute to agricultural modernization and inclusive growth across the country. # (EJLG)