DILIMAN, Quezon City – Having completed their Online Pre-Departure Orientation Course, the first batch of Filipino young farmer interns are bound to explore more global farm insights and practices as they leave the country for an 11-month intensive internship program in Taiwan.

This is as part of the “Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program (FYFIP) in Taiwan,” a joint initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA) with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO), with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) as the lead implementing agency.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar graced the send-off ceremony held earlier today for the pilot batch composed of 30 young farmers from different regions in the Philippines.

In his message, he urged them to learn and appreciate the best agricultural, practices technologies, and innovations in Taiwan, and consequently, build their respective start-ups when they return home.

“This program gives the young generation of Filipinos the chance to appreciate why Taiwan is one of the leading countries in the world, particularly in agriculture, agribusiness, food processing, and manufacturing, among others,” the Secretary said.

He furthered, “Once you have imbibed the best strategies in Taiwan, you will be given opportunities back home in many ways.”

“This is an opportunity to start planning for your next journey in life and we would like you to get engaged in agribusiness,” Dar added.

He also highlighted that the Department is constantly taking all the measures needed towards empowerment and prosperity of the farmers, and that the DA wants “the younger generation to be there, leading the way.”

For his part, Ambassador Peiyung Hsu of TECO, emphasized that the main purpose of the FYFIP is to help the young farmers improve their knowledge and skills as they play critical roles in transforming the sector.

“I really would like to see the farmers in the Philippines be well empowered with new technologies and skills so you can help other farmers,” he said.

The Ambassador shared some travel reminders to the interns upon their arrival in Taiwan, and, likewise, assured them that they will be treated well by their respective host-farmers.

He thanked the DA for the partnership program and wished the young farmers to have a “very productive and successful learning journey.”

Early this year, the FYFIP Batch 1 have undergone an orientation course intended to improve their knowledge, skills, and practices on pig husbandry, mechanized rice production, dairy and beef cattle production and management, basic aquaculture, agricultural production, and the Mandarin Language.

This program was sealed with a memorandum of understanding with MECO and TECO in December 2020, enhancing the existing friendly relations between the agriculture and fishery authorities.

DA Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes, ATI Officer-in-Charge Director Rosana Mula, and MECO Director Cesar Drilon were also present during the send-off activity held at the ATI-Central Office in this city.