DILIMAN, Quezon City – As the Youth in Agripreneurship Program (YAP) commenced this year, some young agripreneurs from selected regions in the country introduced outstanding and innovative agribusiness ideas, which are recognized and now provided with support.

Initiated by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Program seeks to holistically empower the youth into the sector and shape them to be partners for advancement.

Some of the opportunities that the young people are looking at are on wide-scale hydroponics and vegetable production as well as product development and processing.

As a culmination activity for the Program, an awarding ceremony was held to recognize the 27 winners of the business pitching competition from implementing regions in CALABARZON, Central Visayas, and Region 12. This was also made to celebrate all the efforts of the participants in the entire duration of the training program.

ATI Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Director Rosana Mula congratulated everyone who participated in the YAP, saying that they are all winners just by joining and completing the program.

“Let it be known that we truly recognize each and everyone’s relentless effort and dedication,” she said.

Mula then added, “But more than winning, it would be more fulfilling if you use this opportunity to be a role model for other youth to yield exemplary results in agribusiness ventures, to mainstream youth agripreneurship, and to be more conscious in taking part in nation building.”

Similarly, DA Undersecretary-designate and Chief-of-Staff Leocadio Sebastian said that the Department is honored to have “sent off a generation of agri leaders in the future of farming and with a brand-new consciousness for global challenges in the sector.”

He also challenged the winners to question ideas of traditional farming in these changing times.

“Look towards what is possible, and explore what seems to be impossible,” Sebastian urged them.

Moreover, as an active partner of the program, Commissioner-in-Charge Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema of the National Youth Commission graced the event, and expressed his gratitude to the young agripreneurs for being productive in the sector and nation-building.

“You are the generation of hope that Dr. Jose Rizal is looking for,” he stated.

In response, one of the winners from CALABARZON, Nadia Kristina M. Ona, expressed her gratitude to all the program implementers. She, likewise, affirmed that the program has been instrumental in shaping their mindsets, knowledge, skills, and even their network to establish promising agribusiness ventures.

Prior to the completion of their respective business proposals, the participants have undertaken series of training programs on farm business, agro-entrepreneurship, youth agripreneurial capabilities, as well as National Certificate II on agro-entrepreneurship assessment.

The YAP Awarding Ceremony was held last December 14 in the ATI – Rural Development Education Center in Quezon City.