Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. urged young Bicolanos to take advantage of various government initiatives promoting the agro-fishery sector, calling them “critical” components in the national goal of producing more food and modernizing the farm sector.
The Department of Agriculture, under the leadership of Tiu Laurel, has opened a menu of services in aid of the food security agenda of the Marcos Jr. administration to prepare and equip young Filipinos in various agri-fishery endeavors.
In his message during the 2nd Metro Naga Young Leaders Forum, Tiu Laurel highlighted the importance of the youth in the food production sector.
“You are the hope of our nation. Thus, it is our duty and legacy to prepare you, to empower you for the future,” he said.
According to Tiu Laurel, the forum themed: Building bridges, igniting change: Youth Leadership for inclusive and Sustainable Metro Naga is very much attuned to the goals of the Department of Agriculture towards achieving food security for the Filipino and developing the agri-fishery sector as a profitable industry.
To encourage more young people to venture in the business of agriculture, the DA has launched the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC), which offers financial grants to young Filipinos eager to engage in new agri-fishery enterprises.
YFC, which kicked off in 2021, is being undertaken with support from the Office of Senator Imee Marcos.
“It has provided a total of P15.37 million financial grants to YFC beneficiaries in Bicol from 2021 to 2023,” Tiu Laurel said.
To date, some 182 enterprises in Bicol managed by 230 young farmers are funded by the DA-YFC Program. They are also being assisted in product promotion and technical assistance in their registration with the Food and Drug Administration.
Tiu Laurel said another initiative is the Youth Internship Program on Organic Agriculture funded by the National Organic Agriculture Program and implemented by the Agricultural Training Institute.
The 9-month program started last year and involves internship with a farm partner, preferably with a learning site for agriculture.
A total 145 youth participants have been granted P150,000 as start-up capital, with 10 coming from the Bicol Region and engaged in swine and poultry, vegetable, black soldier fly and Mokusako production.
DA also jumpstarted other strategies to encourage the youth to venture into agribusiness and farming.
“We are revolutionizing the food sector by strengthening our capabilities towards mechanization and modernization of agri-fishery production systems,” the agri chief said.
