The Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga) gathered more than 90 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation leaders on Friday for a daylong Agri Youth Summit aimed at promoting agricultural programs and services across the region.

Emmylou Presilda, chief of the DA-13 agriculture and fisheries information section, said the summit provided updates on the agency’s priority programs and sought to inspire youth leaders to champion agriculture in their localities.

“The summit also aims to equip our SK leaders to advocate for agriculture in their communities,” Presilda said in an interview.

Abel Wagas, DA-13 technical director for research and integrated laboratories, emphasized the importance of youth engagement in agriculture, citing the challenges posed by the country’s aging farming population.

“I am urging you to highlight agriculture in your respective areas to create meaningful impacts on the sector,” Wagas told the youth leaders.

DA-13 Executive Director Arlan Mangelen also participated in the summit, offering insights on the region’s agricultural status and encouraging collaboration to address sectoral challenges.

The event included a workshop where SK leaders developed strategies to involve more young people in their communities. (PNA)