DA bets on young farmers to reboot Philippine agribusiness

Baguio City is hosting a wave of agribusiness energy this week as the Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) and in collaboration with the DA Regional Field Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region, stages the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Batch 2024 National Competition and Awarding Ceremony from 13 to 17 July 2025.

Now in its fifth year, the YFC program has evolved into one of the DA’s most significant initiatives for building an entrepreneurial pipeline in agriculture. The competition is a cornerstone of the government’s broader effort to rejuvenate the farming sector and address the looming demographic crisis of an aging agricultural workforce by investing in a new generation of agri-preneurs.

Since its inception, more than 4,000 young Filipinos have received capital assistance through YFC grants, helping launch or upscale agribusiness ventures that blend innovation, sustainability, and profitability. These ventures span value-added food processing, digital agriculture, organic farming, and climate-smart technologies.

The YFC program is designed to modernize agriculture by empowering the youth to treat farming as a viable business, not merely a tradition. Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, along with Senator Imee Marcos – who originally championed the program – are expected to attend the culminating event in Baguio.

The highlight of the national gathering is a multi-day business pitch competition featuring the top 65 young agri-entrepreneurs from across the country. These include 35 finalists in the Start-Up category, 15 in the Upscale category, and another 15 in the Intercollegiate division.

From 14 to 16 July, the participants will present their business models before a panel of expert judges drawn from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, state universities and colleges, and representatives from the private sector. The proposals will be assessed based on feasibility, innovation, and potential for industry impact.

Winners in each category will receive grant funding ranging from P250,000 to P500,000 to further develop and expand their agribusiness ventures. Additional citations will be awarded for outstanding achievements in areas such as Social Innovation, Product Packaging and Labeling, Indigenous Product Development, Young Regenerative Agriculture, and Agri-Tech Advancement.

Beyond the competition, the finalists will participate in a Business Innovation Tour across selected agribusiness sites in the Cordillera region. Organized by DA-RFO CAR, the tour aims to expose young entrepreneurs to real-world success stories in sustainable farming and agri-enterprise management, offering valuable insights into scalable business models and emerging technologies.

On 17 July, the competition will culminate in a national awarding ceremony at the Baguio Convention Center. The event will also feature a product showcase where finalists will display their goods to a wide audience that includes potential investors, buyers, industry mentors, and government officials. Organizers hope the showcase will not only celebrate innovation but also open doors to commercialization opportunities and public-private partnerships.

DA-AMAS Director Junibert de Sagun said the YFC is a strategic initiative in reengineering Philippine agriculture, emphasizing that empowering young Filipinos to lead agribusiness development is key to securing long-term food security and rural economic growth. He added that the program aims to build an ecosystem of innovation, job creation, and value addition in the countryside.

Agriculture currently accounts for about 10 percent of the Philippines’ GDP and employs around a quarter of the national labor force. Officials believe the YFC’s focus on youth entrepreneurship is both timely and essential in repositioning agriculture as a driver of inclusive and sustainable economic development.