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By: Sangguniang Panlalawigan | Photos By: SP | Date: February 2022
The Provincial Government of La Union has recognized three young farmers who topped the provincial search for Young Farmers Challenge Fund: Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program. They are Mr. Antonio B. Fontanilla, Jr., Ms. Veberly T. Jubilo and Mr. Frederick M. Uyaan.
The competition began last May 2021 with around 2,000 applicants. These young farmers, with the strong support of their respective families, submitted their enterprises to the Department of Agriculture and after a rigorous application process were hailed as Regional Winners and thus represented Region 1 in the national level. These young farmers received cash prizes amounting to Php 50,000.00 each for a start-up capital on their respective enterprises. To date, the second (2nd) batch of the Provincial Level Competition started last November 2021.
The nation-wide search competition on Young Farmers Challenge Fund: Kabataang Agribiz Competitive Grant Assistance Program was designed to encourage filipino youth to engage in agriculture and agri-fishery and aims to develop and inspire young adults to venture in farming business while providing more opportunities to earn and improve leadership skills and competence in running farm-based enterprise.
The said competition is a competitive financial grant assistance program open to all interested youth who want to venture in agri-fishery based enterprises. In the challenge, the participants submitted their agri-business model canvas which focused on innovative micro to small scale agribusiness ideas with profitable potential.
Mr. Antonio B. Fontanilla, Jr., who is from Barangay Bugbucao, San Juan, La Union is the owner and the manager of ABF Integrated Farm that propagates and produces organic farm fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, Ms. Veberly T. Jubilio and Mr. Frederick M. Uyaan are from Barangay Tallipugo, Balaoan, La Union. They are co-owners and managers of La Sierra Mushroom Farm that produces organic mushrooms and other products. The success and achievements of these young farmers are essential in moving closer to achieve the vision of the province to be βThe Heart of AgriTourism in Northern Luzon by 2025.β
Mr. Antonio B. Fontanilla together with Mr. Frederick M. Uyaaan and Ms. VeberlyT. Jubilo, represented Region 1 in the first National Young Farmerβs Summit, wherein, the enterprise of Mr. Frederick Uyaan and Ms. Veberly T. Jubilo was among the Top 15 finalists and received Php 150,000.00 as cash grant. The Provincial Government of La Union is beaming with pride and honor to the achievements of these young farmers of todayβs generation.
