Agriculture needs boost from youth — DA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture maintained that the younger generation is needed to boost the sector amid the country’s aging farmers.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar has challenged the Filipino youth, specifically graduating college students, to make a difference by engaging in an agri-fishery enterprise.

“The Filipino youth is a key driver to ensure the attainment of a food-secure and resilient Philippine agriculture, leading to a better performing economy, today and in succeeding years,” Dar said.

“Given the country’s aging farmers, the engagement of the youth is a necessary boost to the sector,” he said.

The DA continues to lure younger people and millennials to venture into agriculture through its projects aimed at supporting students and young agripreneurs to start their agri-fishery enterprise.

One of which is the Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs that offers a non-collateral loan worth P300,000 to P500,000, payable in five years at zero interest.

Interested millennials, 18 to 30 years old, should only present a business proposal for review and assessment. Once their loans are validated and approved, they will be mentored by experts from partner state universities, non-government organizations and the private sector.

The DA also has the Mentoring and Attracting Youth in Agribusiness (MAYA),  a six-month internship program aimed at developing a competent, skilled and employment-ready youthful workforce.

“At the end of their internship, they have the option to either join as a regular employee of the DA or embark on his or her preferred agribusiness enterprise,” Dar said.

“That’s the goal, we need to build up the future human capital of Philippine agriculture in the bureaucracy. If they choose to open a business, they have to present a business plan and we will give them a loan under KAYA,” he said.

Further, the DA, through the Agricultural Training Institute, has partnered with Go Negosyo of Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion in its Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program, a face-to-face mentorship via teleconference of prospective agripreneurs, including the youth.

The DA also plans  to conduct a youth summit in agriculture towards the end of the year.