THE Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA RFO 02), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, held the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Summit on Nov. 22, 2024, at SM City Tuguegarao in Tuguegarao, Cagayan.
Coinciding with the ongoing Kadiwa Trade Fair, the event was joined by 230 young participants who explored innovative farming practices, built networks with peers and industry experts, and gained insights from presentations by distinguished resource persons.
Paul Buenavista of the DA-RFO2 Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section said the event “served as an inspiring platform for young farmers, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in modern agriculture and entrepreneurial ventures while addressing the challenges of an aging farming population.”
The participants of the young farmers summit held recently in Tuguegarao. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PHOTO
In a presentation, Marlex Lorenzo, a 2023 YFC Regional Awardee, shared insights on “Smart Mushroom Farming: Automated Systems for Oyster Mushroom Production,” discussing and highlighting the benefits of automation in improving productivity, reducing labor and ensuring sustainable practices in mushroom farming.
Maricris Galinggana, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cagayan Provincial Office senior trade and industry development specialist, who presented on the “Youth Entrepreneurship Program,” emphasized the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among young farmers and discussed available DTI programs and services that support business development and sustainability.
John Benedic de Asis, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) project technical assistant, introduced various DOST programs designed for young farmers. His discussion focused on funding opportunities, technological innovations and research initiatives aimed at empowering agricultural ventures.
In an interactive session, Alliah Joselle Galano, an enterprise development specialist, led an activity featuring a question-and-answer portion that encouraged young farmers to engage with the speakers and share their knowledge.
Another presenter, Kimberly Calayan, Department of Information and Communications Technology project development officer, discussed the department’s programs for young farmers elaborated on how technology can revolutionize farming, focusing on digital tools, internet connectivity and online training resources tailored for agricultural applications.
Princess Enna Bajan and Rovles Tabua of the DA-RFO2 Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) provided in their presentation an orientation and registration on RSBSA and explained the benefits of the system’s registration, including access to government support programs and services.
Finally, John Carlo Balino, Agribusiness and Developed Processed Products Technology Business Incubator (ADePT-TBI) project assistant, and Mark Patrick Atabay, ADePT-TBI manager, discussed the role of corporate social responsibility in agribusiness, and presented “Good Life Goals: Integrating UN Sustainable Development Goals into Agribusiness Models,” emphasizing the importance of aligning agricultural practices with global sustainability goals.
Meanwhile, the Kadiwa Trade Fair had 28 exhibitors, six of which were YFC awardees, and 22 farmers and fishers associations.
Buenavista said the trade fair showcased assorted fruits and vegetables, processed products, salted eggs, seeds, rice and pastries which were also available for sale at affordable prices.
“The trade fair provided a platform for farmers to market their goods and for consumers to support local agriculture,” he said.
Buenavista added that the YFC Summit in tandem with the Kadiwa Trade Fair “highlighted the potential of young farmers and traders to drive innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector for the region and the country.”
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