Two senior students and three alumni of the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) program and an alumnus of the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management BSABM) program of DMMMSU-NLUC received awards in the Young Farmers Challenge Fund: Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program (YFCF: KACGAP). They are among the 28 winners in the 2nd Batch YFCF Provincial Level. The winners will be receiving Php 50,000.00 grant as start-up capital.
The YFCF: KACGAP of the Department of Agriculture – Region 1 is a competitive financial grant assistance program open to all interested youth who wanted to venture in agri-fishery based enterprises.
In the challenge, the participants submitted their agri-business model canvas which focused on innovative micro to small scale agribusiness ideas with profitable potential.
Mr. Jazzend L. Gannad, a senior BSA student ventures on J’s Egg Enterprise where he will be selling fresh eggs from their farm.
“Due to the distance of the egg supply sources in our community, I planned to work on J’s Egg Enterprise through poultry farming,” he said when asked about his entry.
Another NLUC participant is Mr. Medwin Eazer C. Capinpin, a senior BSA student. He proposed MDZ Farm where he targets to advance raising rabbit, one of the livestock and the first that they raised since 2019.
“We have seen the potential of rabbit meat in solving the shortage of protein source and meat price hike in our community,” Mr. Capinpin mentioned.
Moreover, the BSA alumni Mr. Jonel A. Hayohay and Ms. Cherisse May L. Hayohay will be jointly working on “CJ’s Organic Mushroom Farm”.
In a short exchange with Ms. Hayohay, she mentioned that the main objective of their farm is to produce a healthy and organically grown fresh oyster and volvariella mushroom in the locality.
On the other hand, Ms. Jennifer L. Lilan, a BSA alumna had her agribusiness venture titled as “Ginger and Turmeric with Makahiya and Tawa-tawa Processed as a Mixture Supplement to Boost Immune System”.
Lastly, the BSABM alumnus Mr. Reggi J. Hidalgo proposed “Salun-at Vegetable Farm”. He said, “our farm aims to promote excellent health and convenience by delivering a fresh, healthy, and cost-effective vegetable basket in the locality”.
Each participant was given 10 minutes to defend their entries to the panel. (Hannah Nora Solimen)