YOUNG farmers and agripreneurs in Antique are encouraged to join the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) program and pitch business ideas they intend to pursue.
Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Community Affairs officer Ge Anthony Recopuerto said pre-registration is ongoing for the program’s 2026 season.
“The YFC encourages young people aged 18 to 30 years old to engage in agricultural work to put their ideas into reality,” he said in an interview on Tuesday, April 28.
The program of the Department of Agriculture extends prizes to winning projects – P80,000 at the provincial level, P150,000 at the regional level, and P300,000 at the national level, which they can use to expand their initiatives.
Recopuerto added that five young agripreneurs from Antique received P80,000 in cash prize at the YFC provincial level in October 2025 for their projects, such as spiced vinegar, integrated farming, and beta fish culture.
“The financial grant is being given so that the young agripreneurs could use it for their seed capital,” he said.
One of the awardees, Geneco Mabasa, made it to the national competition, winning a P300,000 cash prize for his nipa spiced vinegar during the national competition held in Iloilo last week.
The provincial awardees were presented to the Provincial Board during their regular session on April 27.
In the same interview, OPA Agribusiness and Marketing Coordinator Betty Baldevia said that 40 exhibitors will join the Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP) at the Antique Old Capitol in San Jose de Buenavista from April 29 to May 1.
“The KNP intends to help farmers and consumers be able to market and buy affordable and fresh vegetables, fruits, and rice,” she said. (PNA)
