The Department of Agriculture (DA) has begun empowering young farmers in Tarlac to become competent “agripreneurs”.

The DA, through the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center 3 (Central Luzon) and in collaboration with the Office of Senator Grace Poe and local government units (LGUs), has delivered a livelihood program that could help develop the youth’s potentials as partners in the community and agricultural development.

Under the BINHI ng Pag-asa Program (BPP), about 130 young farmers from the towns of Pura, Victoria, Gerona, Ramos, and Anao received on Wednesday 130 upgraded female goats, 30 upgraded male goats, 130 packs of Rensonii seeds, and 130 packs of Flemingia seeds.

Tarlac provincial agriculturist Alicia A. Cruz said Thursday the delivery of the livelihood starter kits is part of the BPP’s objective to capacitate the youth and prepare them to become future agriculture leaders.

“This is part of the goal of gradually mending the constant decline of Filipinos engaged in agriculture, alongside the growing generational gap among farmers,” Cruz said in a social media post.

Before the distribution of the livelihood assistance, the beneficiaries underwent training in goat production, leadership in agriculture, and values formation.

She said a total of 485 young farmers in Tarlac attended the training.

Jomari Nuqui, one of the participants, shared that the training was a big help to him.

“Malaking tulong siya para sa akin dahil nabibigyan kami ng opportunity na para mailabas pa ang aming talent. Lubos akong nagpapasalamat sa mga ahensya na nag-lead sa training na ito. Dahil sa kanila ay naisakatuparan itong Binhi ng Pag-asa Program. Napakalaking tulong po nito sakin at sa mga kasamahan kong nag te-training (This is a big help because we were given an opportunity to show our talent. We are thankful to the agencies that led this training. Because of them, the Binhi ng Pag-asa Program was implemented. This is a big help for me and to my colleagues),” Nuqui said. (PNA)