In celebration of the International Youth Day, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) highlighted the importance of strong youth engagement in agri-fishery decision-making processes at the second part of the launching of the Agricultural and Fishery Youthpreneur Council (AFYC) on August 12, 2020.
More than 50 youth leaders from different regions joined PCAF’s AFYC launch via Google Meet. The Council for the youth has been initially launched on June 30 as one of the featured activities of PCAF’s “Seven-dipitous” anniversary.
“Today, as we launch the 2nd part of AFYC, we are also celebrating the International Youth Day with the theme ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’. The global celebration is a reminder for us in PCAF to continuously highlight the need for the youth to take part in decision-making not only in the national front, but also in multi-national institutions and processes,” said PCAF Acting Executive Director Liza G. Battad.
Alongside with PCAF’s Advisory Special Bodies, the AFYC will be one of the primary actors in the agri-fishery decision-making process, through the participation of youth in the identification and formulation of innovative and sound policy recommendations and influence the sector’s policy environment.
Qualified to join the council are young agripreneurs, members of the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development in the Philippines, members of the Volunteer Leader’s Association of the Philippines, Young Filipino Farm Leaders Training Program scholars, awardees and winners of agricultural awards, agricultural and fishery youth organizations in the value chain, youth organizations registered at the National Youth Commission, and 4-H Club leaders who are 18-40 years old.
Aside from the launch, PCAF also presented the additional founding members of the AFYC. (See graphics)
As part of the launch, PCAF introduced poultry farmer and agripreneur video blogger (vlogger) Albert Dwight Tamayo and Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs (KAYA) program manager Noel Clarence Ducusin as resource persons and help the participants to jumpstart their businesses.
Tamayo graduated as a nurse in Palanas, Masbate and ventured into poultry farming when there was an oversupply of fresh nurse graduates in the Philippines.
Years after, when the poultry business was in its solid state, he and his wife started vlogging about layer poultry chicken. His channel was even selected as one of the winners of the YouTube NextUp Manila 2019.
“As one of the creators selected in that contest, they said that my contents are unique and have an impact in society. As a poultry farmer and vlogger, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na maibahagi sa aking kapwa Filipino, especially the youth, to engage into agriculture. I realized that if you combine the proper use of social media and your love and passion for something, it will create awareness, inspire more people, and eventually ignite change,” said Tamayo.
On the other hand, KAYA Program Manager Ducusin presented the ACPC’s KAYA Program, eligible borrowers, eligible loan purpose, lending scheme, features, documentary requirements, and capacity-building support components.
According to ACPC, KAYA is a loan facility for qualified yaggies (young agripreneurs) that provides zero percent interest to finance the capital requirements of their start-up or existing farm or fishery business.
Individual borrowers must be 18-30 years old, agri or fishery graduates on either formal or non-formal schooling, and must be engaged in farming or fishing registered or enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture or under Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS).
It is also open for partnership, corporation, cooperative registered or enrolled under the FFEDIS.
For more information, details are available on ACPC’s website at www.acpc.gov.ph or interested parties can contact the agency at (02) 8-634-3320 to 31, (02) 8-636-339 to 93.###JC
