By Frances Batara

A group of junior agriculture students of the MMSU College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) emerged victorious in the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Program 2023 organized by the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office I in collaboration with the Office of Senator Imee Marcos and the Government Service Insurance System.

Franz Justine Dancel (agronomy), Efanna Felice Casil (animal science), and Althea Victoria Cainglit (agricultural extension) won in the event’s intercollegiate category. The group received Php 150,000 grant from the DA-RFO Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division. Through a business model canvass, the students presented their project dubbed “Cup-SD Enterprise” on October 3 at the DA-RFO. They were guided by Mr. Christopher Demetrio Ruiz, faculty member of agribusiness department. Cup-SD Enterprise aims to develop instant healthy food product which will cater and satisfy the demands of the market. The implementers will partner with local farmers, who shall serve as suppliers of quality raw materials. 

Darizel Vidad, an agribusiness graduate, also received another P150k grant for being one of the seven winners in the regional category. Her product is Sweet Potato Calamansi Juice. The winners will use the grants as start-up capital for the different activities of the enterprises such as procurement of materials, verification of nutrient content, and application for Intellectual Property protection. The MMSU Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator will provide technical assistance to the project implementers.

The YFC program aims to assist Filipino youth in implementing agribusiness ventures through competitive financial grants and development assistance. (HLY, StratCom)