DA tries to lure OFWs to agriculture sector

MANILA, Philippines — The government is bent on attracting more people, especially overseas Filipino workers, to return to the countryside as it allots P2.5 billion in loanable funds for agriculture and fishery ventures.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is offering zero-interest loans, free training and technical and marketing assistance for OFWs and those who want to go into farming and agri-business.

An initial P2.5 billion has been allocated for three loan programs.

“We are opening our doors to OFWs to join the ranks of our new breed of agri-preneurs who will help us revive and reboot the countryside, and at the same time support the Balik Probinsya program,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

“As we adopt the whole-of-nation approach in creating more livelihood and employment opportunities in the countryside, we will also ensure that more small farmers and fishers, and Balik Probinsya program beneficiaries will benefit from agri ventures spawned by our returning OFWs,” he said.

Dar recently had a meeting with the United Filipino Global International and other government officials and leaders of OFW organizations in the US, Middle East and Australia, among others.

Through the DA-Agricultural Credit Policy Council, OFWs can have access to loans, including free technical training from the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

The loan programs include the Expanded Survival and Recovery Project (SURE), Kapital Access for Young Agriprenuers (KAYA) and Agri-Negosyo (ANYO) which all aim to help micro and small enterprises, marginal small farmers and fishers, and young agripreneurs to venture into enterprises.

“Now is the time to tap the OFW sector as they start to reintegrate themselves back to their respective homes, communities and provinces,” Dar said.

Under SURE, MSEs may avail of up to P10 million as working capital at zero interest and payable in five years. They may be engaged in agri-fishery food production, delivery of produce or commodities, and other activities in the supply chain whose operations were affected by the enhanced community quarantine.

Individual farmers and fishers, affected by the lockdown, may also borrow a non-collateralized loan of P25,000 at zero interest, payable in 10 years, to finance their emergency and production capital requirements.

The KAYA, on the other hand, targets to attract millennials aged 18 to 30 years old who can borrow up to P500,000, zero interest, payable in five years. They may engage in start-up or existing agri-based projects.

The ANYO program finances agri ventures, working capital or fixed asset acquisition by individuals, sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives, whose members are marginal small farmers and fisherfolk. They can avail of P300,000 up to P15 million, zero interest, payable up to five years.

All of the ACPC loans are channeled through government and non-government financial institutions.

Further, ATI will provide OFWs capacity-building and skills training on social preparation and values formation, production technologies, farm business school, and establishment of agri learning sites, among others.