Calling all young farmers!
The Department of Agriculture (DA) eagerly awaits your Young Farmers Challenge Program applications. This program offers a competitive financial grant to support young individuals in bringing their unique and promising ideas to life in agriculture and fishery.
This opportunity is available to all young adults aged 18-30 who have exciting ideas for agricultural or fishery businesses that can generate income. The grant is meant to provide the initial funding for each business, whether one person or a group runs it.
Check out the eligibility criteria:
- Age is 18 to 30 years old at the time of application;
- Natural-born Filipino citizen;
- Has the resources, network, or capability to venture or engage in agriculture and fishery business enterprise, the location of which is within the region he or she is competing, and;
- In the case of a group, all members must pass the above eligibility criteria if members are not relatives up to the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity
Submit the requirements:
- Application letter;
- Duly accomplished application form;
- Business Model Canvas (BMC) and activity and financial plan as prescribed by the program;
- Clear scanned copy of at least one valid identification card (with date of birth indicated);
- Proof of residency must indicate the home address as per barangay certification, barangay clearance, or valid ID.
- Endorsement from the provincial, municipal, city agriculture, or veterinary office;
- Latest 2×2 ID photo with a white background;
- For group-managed enterprise, the members shall submit a declaration of intent among them that they commit to register as a partnership or corporation within one year from receipt of the grant, and;
- Needed additional documents per category of enterprise, as follows: production, processing, digital agriculture
Evaluation criteria:
Your application will be carefully reviewed based on the following factors: entrepreneurial attitude, innovativeness, revenue stream of the business proposal, value addition, and social responsibility.
Financial grant:
Get ready for an exciting financial grant as an enterprise awardee! You could receive P80,000 at the provincial level, P150,000 at the regional level, and a whopping P300,000 at the national level.
The DA would offer business development support to eligible participants, including training programs, help with business and product registration and certification, mentoring, market connections, business networking, enterprise assessment, and the establishment of a young farmers club.
Pre-registration link:
It’s time to make things happen! Gather all your documentary requirements and head to your nearest municipal or provincial agricultural office.
Be ahead of the game and pre-register now by filling out this quick form on Google: https://shorturl.at/k8kyO. The pre-registration link will remain open until June 30, 2024.
Partner agents in food security
According to Francis C. Rosaroso, the Agricultural Center Chief II of the DA in Eastern Visayas, this program is ideal for youth interested in agriculture, agri-business, and agri-entrepreneurship. He encouraged them to submit their proposals and participate in the program.
“We are convincing or motivating our youth nga mag engage sa agriculture and fishery through hiton financial grants and really participate hini nga young farmer challenge,” he said during the 4th episode of the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas.
(We are convincing or motivating our youth to engage in agriculture and fishery through financial grants and actively participate in this young farmer challenge.)
Youth farmer
Dhevon Joseph L. Aniban, a 21-year-old officer of the Cag-anibong Young Farmers Association in Calbayog City, Samar, mentioned that the program enables them to broaden their understanding of agriculture. He emphasized the need for creativity and analysis in developing new agricultural products.
He also expressed his belief that the program could play a vital role in shaping their future by facilitating the creation of innovative products that would have a positive impact on their community.
When asked if they are interested in submitting a proposal for the Young Farmer Challenge program, Aniban said, “We will implement a variety of innovative products and create a systematic plan to achieve our goal.”
Seize this incredible opportunity to bring your innovative ideas to life, play a crucial role in ensuring food security, and spearhead revolutionary changes in the agriculture and fishery industries. Don’t miss out on this chance to be at the forefront of shaping the future of Philippine agriculture. (AAC, PIA Leyte with reports from PIA intern Mary Rose B. Hibaya)
