Senator Marcos talks to W. Visayas YFC awardees, Enhanced Kadiwa program grantees

Philippine Senator Imee Marcos convened with the awardees of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Program and beneficiaries of the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Financial Grant Assistance Program on March 9 in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Seven farmers’ groups composed of 18 farmer-members are recipients of the Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program and 13 young farmer-awardees of the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) attended the said dialogue.

Both programs are under the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division through the initiatives of Senator Imee R. Marcos.

As proof of effective project implementation, the farmers discussed with Sen. Marcos their various products– from a wide array of vegetables to fresh and processed products, livestock and poultry, fisheries, aquaculture products, and their market areas.

Sen. Marcos also congratulated the national awardees of the YFC Program, Angela Grace E. Singson, Karmiel R. Magtulis, and Ember Ann G. Barabona, with the enterprise name ALI-LAPIA.

She also commended and encouraged other regional YFC winners and Kadiwa Enhance beneficiaries to access the cold storage facility from the DA to maintain the freshness and quality of their agri-products.

“Okay ang production natin pero tingi-tingi ang market ng young farmers natin. Dapat may market access at sariwa ang pagbebenta.

Tulong-tulong tayo para ma access ang cold storage facility para ma level up ang trading capital at makapang consolidate sa process food. Tulong-tulong tayo para mag level-up ang Agrikultura sa Negros,”said Sen. Marcos.

USEC. Kristine Evangelista, DA Western Visayas OIC-Regional Executive Director Jose Albert B. Barrogo, Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, and DA-WV Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Division chief Maria Teresa Solis were present at the event.###By Ann Marie S. Tabura/DA-RAFIS 6