Philippine Senator Imee R. Marcos converged with the grantees of the Department of Agriculture – Caraga’s Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Financial Grant Assistance Program (E-Kadiwa) and the winners of the 2022 Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Program on March 29, at the Provincial Capitol of Agusan del Norte.

Thirteen (13) Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) of E-Kadiwa and 20 young farmer-awardees of YFC attended the said dialogue. The conversation served as an avenue for the beneficiaries to provide updates and address the concerns of their enterprises.

YFC Awardees of the region showcased their local products and presented their sustainability plans. Meanwhile, E-Kadiwa grantees were asked for actions to further boost their operation, production, and marketing.

Nilo Calipayan, Chairman of the KM.7 Farmers Producers Cooperative of Brgy. Tungao, Butuan City said that the program helped his members to engage in agribusiness.

“Some of our members became consolidators already, they are not just farmers now, but business-minded farmers,” Calipayan said.

Senator Marcos also lauded the agribusiness enterprises of the YFC Winners. Marcos emphasizes the need for scaling up the production and marketing of the enterprises to achieve the desirable return on investment.

The YFC is a program that offers financial grants to young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 who have innovative ideas for agricultural enterprises. The program provides training, mentoring, market linkage, and networking assistance to the youth beneficiaries. Additionally, the program also helps them in the process of registering and certifying their businesses and products.

Meanwhile, the Enhanced KADIWA program is designed to create an inclusive food supply chain that aims to ensure that basic food commodities are available and accessible to vulnerable groups. This is done by involving the private sector, farmers, and communities in the food value chain. Through collaboration, the program seeks to address issues of food security and provide the necessary support to those who need it most.

DA Assistant Secretary for Consumer Affairs Kristine Y. Evangelista, with DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Engr. Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr., joined Senator Marcos during the event. Present also were Province of Agusan del Norte Governor Hon. Maria Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, 2nd District Representative Hon. Dale B. Corvera, and Vice Governor Enrico R. Corvera. (Kent Warren H. Fugoso, Information Officer I, DA-RAFIS 13)