ILOILO City – A new wave of young agricultural innovators is battling for millions in government-backed funding as the Department of Agriculture (DA) convenes over 100 “agripreneurs” from 16 regions for the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) National Pitching Competition in Iloilo City from April 20 to 24, 2026.
The competition gathers the country’s most promising farm-based entrepreneurs, with 64 enterprises advancing to the national stage after a rigorous selection process that began at the provincial and regional levels.
Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia of DA – Western Visayas, commended the participants for stepping up to modernize Philippine agriculture.
“This is an opportunity not only to showcase your individual capabilities, but also to demonstrate your commitment to a sector that remains a pillar of our economy and a foundation of national stability,” Arpia emphasized.
The week-long event serves as a national platform where finalists pitch agribusiness proposals before experts, industry leaders, and key stakeholders, highlighting innovation in a sector long seen as critical to food security and economic resilience.
Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra, assistant secretary for agribusiness, marketing and consumer affairs and head of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Program, lauded the participants for reaching the finals, describing them as winners beyond entrepreneurship.
“This initiative serves as a platform to further enhance your leadership capabilities. More importantly, we hope that you will create a lasting impact in shaping the future of Philippine agriculture,” she said.
Entries are divided into three categories: 35 in Start-Up, 15 in Up-Scale, and 14 in Intercollegiate. Under the incentive scheme, 15 winners in the Start-Up Category will each receive P300,000, while 15 winners in the Up-Scale Category and 14 in the Intercollegiate Category will each receive P500,000 in grants.
The winners will be announced on April 23, with the awarding ceremony set at the Iloilo Convention Center.
The YFC program underscores the DA’s push to cultivate a new generation of agripreneurs equipped with innovation, business acumen, and resilience — key ingredients in transforming Philippine agriculture into a globally competitive and sustainable industry./PN
