Tarlac's young farmers urged to level up production to meet high demand
On March 20, 2023, a dialogue was held between Senator Imee Marcos and beneficiaries of two programs in Tarlac, the Young Farmers Challenge Fund (YFCF) and the Enhanced KADIWA. The purpose of the dialogue is to address implementation issues in the programs and seek immediate solutions with the Department of Agriculture and other government agencies.
By James Tababa
Published Mar 29, 2023 05:09 am
On March 20, 2023, a dialogue was held between Senator Imee Marcos and beneficiaries of two programs in Tarlac, the Young Farmers Challenge Fund (YFCF) and the Enhanced KADIWA.
The YFCF is a competitive financial grant program that provides financial assistance to young people who are passionate about starting new agri-fishery businesses. Through this program, young farmers are given the opportunity to obtain funding to help them start their own businesses and become self-sufficient.
*Tarlac young farmers and beneficiaries of the YFC program showcasing their products during the event. (James Tababa)*
The Enhanced KADIWA program, on the other hand, connects farmers and fisherfolk directly with consumers through Kadiwa retail stores. This program makes food commodities more affordable and accessible to the public while also enabling producers to earn a fair income.
During the dialogue, Senator Imee Marcos had the opportunity to hear directly from the beneficiaries of both organizations. This dialogue served as an important platform for discussing the challenges facing young farmers and fisherfolk in the agri-fishery sector and how the government can better support them.
Senator Imee Marcos recognizes the importance of the roles of youth farmers, “Alam naman ninyo na ang ating mga farmers ay may-edad na, pumatatak na ng 58 years old ang average age ng ating farmers, ibig sabihin, sa loob ng ilang taon na lamang ay talagang wala nang magtatanim at yung pagkain natin ay magiging 100% imported na. ‘Yan ang kinatatakutan natin. By 2030, wala ng lokal kapag di tayo nagpursigi. (You already know that our farmers are getting old, the average age of our farmers is now 58 years old. This means that in a few years, there will be no one left to cultivate our lands, and our food will be 100% imported. That is what we fear. By 2030, there will be no local produce if we do not strive hard.),” she said.
The purpose of the dialogue is to address implementation issues in the programs and seek immediate solutions with the Department of Agriculture and other government agencies. The dialog was also attended by Kristine Y. Evangelista, Asec for Consumers Affairs, Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz Jr, Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension and Dr. Max P. Guillermo, Tarlac Agricultural University.
During the dialogue, the young entrepreneurs and KADIWA associations were able to share the current status of their enterprises, provide updates on the program's assistance, and express their concerns about their businesses. On the topic of increasing agricultural production to meet high demand, Senator Imee highlighted the importance of processing products to improve shelf life and to mitigate the unstable prices caused by seasonal fluctuations in the market. She specifically encouraged Tarlac's youth farmers to consider developing processing techniques for their agricultural products.
*Photo courtesy of James Tababa*
[*Read more about farming and gardening at agriculture.com.ph*](https://www.agriculture.com.ph/)**
*Tarlac young farmers and beneficiaries of the YFC program showcasing their products during the event. (James Tababa)*
The Enhanced KADIWA program, on the other hand, connects farmers and fisherfolk directly with consumers through Kadiwa retail stores. This program makes food commodities more affordable and accessible to the public while also enabling producers to earn a fair income.
During the dialogue, Senator Imee Marcos had the opportunity to hear directly from the beneficiaries of both organizations. This dialogue served as an important platform for discussing the challenges facing young farmers and fisherfolk in the agri-fishery sector and how the government can better support them.
Senator Imee Marcos recognizes the importance of the roles of youth farmers, “Alam naman ninyo na ang ating mga farmers ay may-edad na, pumatatak na ng 58 years old ang average age ng ating farmers, ibig sabihin, sa loob ng ilang taon na lamang ay talagang wala nang magtatanim at yung pagkain natin ay magiging 100% imported na. ‘Yan ang kinatatakutan natin. By 2030, wala ng lokal kapag di tayo nagpursigi. (You already know that our farmers are getting old, the average age of our farmers is now 58 years old. This means that in a few years, there will be no one left to cultivate our lands, and our food will be 100% imported. That is what we fear. By 2030, there will be no local produce if we do not strive hard.),” she said.
The purpose of the dialogue is to address implementation issues in the programs and seek immediate solutions with the Department of Agriculture and other government agencies. The dialog was also attended by Kristine Y. Evangelista, Asec for Consumers Affairs, Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz Jr, Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension and Dr. Max P. Guillermo, Tarlac Agricultural University.
During the dialogue, the young entrepreneurs and KADIWA associations were able to share the current status of their enterprises, provide updates on the program's assistance, and express their concerns about their businesses. On the topic of increasing agricultural production to meet high demand, Senator Imee highlighted the importance of processing products to improve shelf life and to mitigate the unstable prices caused by seasonal fluctuations in the market. She specifically encouraged Tarlac's youth farmers to consider developing processing techniques for their agricultural products.
*Photo courtesy of James Tababa*
[*Read more about farming and gardening at agriculture.com.ph*](https://www.agriculture.com.ph/)**