The Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Go Negosyo and LandBank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) to jointly implement Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program (KAMMP), a nationwide mentoring program that targets to develop and sustain agribusiness in the Philippines.

The deal, according to DA, will help scale-up local agribusinesses in the country and open more economies amid the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

KAMMP will be implemented through collaborations with various government entities including the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

Through a virtual ceremonial signing, DA, Go Negosyo, and LANDBANK committed to continue supporting and providing innovations for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The initiative aims to promote inclusive growth by promoting financial accessibility and focusing on the three M’s principles of Go Negosyo, which are Money, Market, and Mentor.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, who serves as a KAMMP mentor, pledged his full support to the initiative, stressing the need to multiply and promulgate MSMEs in the agriculture sector.

“Agripreneurship unleashes the potential of Philippine agriculture to make it more resilient, and continue to be a dependable contributor to the economy. We need to promote more agripreneurship under the new normal environment,” he said.

The agri chief added that the department will continue to seek better ways and innovate to transform food producers into agripreneurs and populate the agribusiness ecosystem.

In spite of the challenges of the times, Dar said the DA will identify ideas and projects that support agripreneurship and vowed to cover more grounds to expand the services of the government to more farmers and fishers.

For his part, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Secretary Joey Concepcion said that one of the goals of the initiative is to open the economy and enable it to co-exist with Covid-19.

“If we can do that, the future of the Philippines will be bright. I am optimistic with what we are doing right now,” Concepcion said.

For her part, LANDBANK President Cecille Borromeo said that the financial institution has continuously designed credit windows and financial assistance packages, custom-made for the needs of agriculture to widen credit access for farmers, fishers, and MSMEs.

“We will continue with our designated role, by providing accessible and credible credit assistance and pursue a perfect synergy of pursuing purposive initiatives in the time of the pandemic,” she said.