Igorot entrepreneur won 1st Nat’l Kabataang Agribiz, received half million grant

Photo Courtesy || DA-CAR

Cordillera - A young Igorot entrepreneur, Mr. Harry Osboken has been recognized as one of the 6 "Outstanding Youth Agribusiness Models" by the Department of Agriculture and was given half a million grant for winning the national competition.

Osboken, the owner of Dalikan's House of Sauces was also given additional P300,000 grant. 

Osboken is grateful for the opportunity DA has opened for them to be able to create and implement their agribusiness.

“I’d like to thank DA for this wonderful opportunity. From the highlands, we [the youth] seek opportunities in agriculture. We are very grateful for the chance given to us to develop our business and to be able to express our ideas,” Osboken said.

In Sec. Dar’s speech, he also said that the young agripreneurs or yaggies are the new heroes of Philippine agriculture. 

The Kabataang Agribiz Grant Assistance Program aims to encourage the younger generation to put up ventures in line with agricultural development and food production. 

The program provides the young agripreneurs financial aid to support them in starting or continuing agriculture enterprises such as crop and livestock production, fisheries, trading, processing, integrated farming, and agricultural technology. 

Since its launch in April, DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) has awarded P50,000 start-up capital to each of the 1,179 provincial-level awardees. 

From these, 48 were qualified for the regional level and received an additional P150,000 cash grant.

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Helping Cordillera farmers: DA's KADIWA now open at SM Baguio

Photo Courtesy || MJDacillo via DA-CAR Rafis FB

Cordillera - You can now buy fruits, vegetables, processed foods from the Cordillera region at the SM ground floor starting October 22 to November 1. 

The Department of Agriculture has opened the "Farmers Produce" to help farmers directly sells their produce to the consumer at a reasonable price.

Here is the announcement from Department of Agriculture Cordillera Facebook page:

DA KADIWA termed "Farmers Produce" is now open in SM Baguio.

Serving as a direct selling platform for highland farmers, the "Farmers Produce" market caravan was launched today with 16 participating farmer associations accross CAR.

Photo Courtesy || MJDacillo via DA-CAR Rafis FB

As a product of inter-institutional partnership between the Department of Agriculture Cordillera, Resto PH, and SM City Baguio, the Farmers Produce is seen to generate increased profit for local farmers amidst the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19.

Avail of fresh and reasonably priced organic and GAP certified vegetables, fruits, processed foods, and many more from October 22 to November 1 at SM Baguio Mall Atrium.    

Source || MJDacillo via DA-CAR Rafis FB

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Young agripreneurs (farmers) can loan up to P500,000 with no collateral and zero interest from DA

Cordillera - On January 2020, the Department of Agriculture had launched the Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs (KAYA) to enable the young Filipinos to venture into agriculture business. 

"We want to encourage the millennials to go back to agriculture and and become entrepreneurs", said DA secretary William D. Dar during the launching of the loan program in Pampanga. 

Under the DA-ACPC, young entrepreneurs can borrow up to P500,000 which is payable in 5 years without collateral and with zero interest. 

The KAYA Program will finance capital requirements of start-up or existing agri-based projects of young entrepreneurs and agri-fishery graduates ages 18-30 years old. 

To avail of the program, one must visit or contact the nearest DA office in your area or visit the official website at http://car.da.gov.ph/

DA officials will talk to you and coach you about your business plan. This is to make sure that your idea is viable and will be a successful venture in the future. 

Once approved, DA will release you the loan via KAYA cash card which you will use to withdraw the money from any ATM terminals. 

DA has recently partnered with PAYMAYA to allow disbursement of cash loans to borrowers using the PAYAMAYA app.

The loan grant from the DA is intended for young upstarts who are determined and serious to get into farming as a business.  

You don't need to have educational degree to avail of the program. You only need a viable, sustainable business idea to begin with and of course the will the succeed. 

For more information visit https://www.da.gov.ph/young-agripreneurs-get-loans-from-das-kaya-via-cash-card/

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