CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), spearheads the regional judging for the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) for the start-up category at the agency compound here

According to DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the YFC start-up is a competitive financial grant assistance program for youth who wish to engage in new or start-up agri-fishery enterprises, encouraging such sectors to pursue careers in agriculture.

Some 14 individuals have pitched their business model canvass; 10 have presented for the production category and four for processing.

Of whom were qualified at the regional level competition after being hailed as provincial winners representing Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental.

Out of the presenters, only seven will be adjudged as winners: three from the processing category while four will be coming from the production category, with one slot added to the latter in the absence of an entry for digital agriculture.

Regional awardees will receive an additional financial grant of P150K on top of their previous grant, amounting to P80K for winning at the provincial level.

Another P300K also awaits those who will move to the national level of the YFC start-up competition.

The panel of judges is composed of DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Cora A. Dumayaca, Executive Assistant III, Joel S. Rudinas, and Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council – 10 Chair Nilda B. Salas. (DA RFO-10)