Seven young farmer agri-prenuers were adjudged as Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) 2024 regional level winners under the start-up open category, each to receive P150,000 as cash award as additional capital for their enterprise.

Some fourteen (14) youth presenters, who were all recognized as provincial awardees were qualifiers for the regional level competition, as they presented their business model canvass (BMC) to the panel of judges during the YFC regional judging and evaluation held recently at the Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) complex in Mandaue City.

Of the 14 youths, seven were selected as best enterprises emerging as the regional winners. They impressed the judges based on the set of criteria, which include innovativeness of the business proposals, revenue stream, value adding and social responsibility.

During the opening, Jake Madrio, the chief of DA7’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) said the two-day regional judging is crucial in the selection of the winners to vie in the national level competition.

”Mga banggiitan kini nga mga youth kay they took challenge, as they present their business ideas,”Madrio said.

“One of the challenges that the country is on aging farmers, and here, the youth took part in the challenge,” Madrio added.

Among the categories under the start-up were on production, processing (food and non food) and digital agriculture.

Adjudged as regional winners on production category were Dignity Lagunay of Maribojoc, Bohol for the project on Tinibgan Bee Reserve, Jimwell Abiertas of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental for the Lettuce in the Box, Christine Jay Balolong of Siquijor, Siquijor for the Cjay’s Quail Farm and Genesis C. Luaña of Argao, Cebu for the GenZ’s Ooh!-hong Kingdom.

For processing (food) category, the winners were Jenifer Marie M. Gasatan of Bilar, Bohol for the project Yamazing Innovations and Anna Mariel C. Poblacion of Amlan, Negros Oriental for the Zhav’s Pineapple Marmalade., while the processing (Non-food) category went to Kevin Delmo of Argao, Cebu for the Rainbow Healthy Options.