Filipino youths play a crucial role in powering society and keeping it moving forward. Many young people are seeking jobs that fulfill their financial needs and self-worth. However, there is a need for newer generations to enter the agriculture and fishery sector. Opportunity is a word that you will see plenty of in this article—as plenty as there is when you enter the agri-fishery scene.
The Youth Internship Program on Organic Agriculture (YIPOA), formerly called Youth Scholarship Grant on Organic Farming, is a 21-month internship program implemented by the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). Interested individuals will undergo nine months of on-site training and schooling with a farm partner, followed by a one-year implementation of their proposed project or organic enterprise. The initiative is open to young people 18 to 35 years old, whether out-of-school youth or college graduates.
YIPOA opens doors for a new generation of organic farmers. 24-year-old Ms. Raschel Abata, inspired by her father's dedication to organic gardening, grabbed the opportunity. A local from Dagupan City, Pangasinan, and a BS in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences graduate from Pangasinan State University Binmaley, Raschel came from the first batch of the internship program. Although her family's background is in fisheries, she found her path crossing with agriculture. She hasn't strayed away since.
Ms. Raschel Abata and Her Training in Ilocos Norte
Her introduction to the Youth Scholarship Grant on Organic Farming came by chance when she saw a post by ATI while scrolling through Facebook one day. She mistook the training as a one-day program and signed up. After a month, ATI called her and picked her as one of the participants. Although she was surprised by the 21-month-long training session, she still fixed her papers, including her Business Model Canvas, and signed up for the program.
Raschel left her home in Dagupan City and ventured to Batac, Ilocos Norte, where she was partnered with a co-intern for nine months, learning hands-on with a partner farm. There were adjustments for her, including the long distance and the language barrier. She could only go home for two days on the weekends or when she felt ill. There was even a time when a typhoon hit the farm and left them stranded.
However, there was a flip side to her challenges. While in Batac, Raschel learned essential farming techniques, such as growing leafy green vegetables and fruit-bearing crops and producing compost and concoctions. She and her co-intern earned their NC2 for Organic Agriculture Production from the TESDA-accredited farm partner. She acquired more knowledge while on-site, and her co-intern made the transition from fishery to agriculture smoother.
Raschel had a vision. She saw herself running a farm and helping her family with the extra income from her crops. That was her motivation to continue with her training.
An Innovation Bound to Happen: Raptineschela’s Vegetable Farm
When Raschel returned to Dagupan, she established Raptineshela’s Vegetable Farm. Named after Raschel and her siblings, Ratineschela’s Vegetable Farm grows different crops, but their best sellers are their green leafy vegetables, including lettuce, bok choy, and pechay. But how can her crops survive in a flood-prone area like Dagupan?
Raschel's father suggested making raised garden beds for planting crops at an elevated height. Initially, they planned to use drum containers for their project. However, they realized it was too expensive, so they settled for stationary raised beds made of cemented tubes. And because of how lightweight leafy greens were, they planted those in the raised beds. Other crops, such as eggplants, were planted in plastic containers that were easy to move in cases of flooding.
Raschel saw the potential in food production in Dagupan. She said, "Gusto kong i-promote yung food sustainability, na kahit nga bahain ang lugar, pwede kang makapag-produce."
Flooding is not the only challenge when running her farm. She also considers electricity and water. Water, in particular, was a tricky situation before they found a workaround.
Before, they used to use a nearby river to water their crops. However, their crops kept wilting. Raschel theorized that the water was acidic because of the presence of nipa trees in the area. So, they fill four large barrels and a few mini ones from home and deliver them to the farm. And even then, water only lasts two to three days as the crops demand watering from morning, noon, and afternoon, especially during hot days.
However, their hard work at the farm paid off during their first year of production. The farm's four-cycle production started last April 2024. Raptineshela’s Vegetable Farm yielded 20 kilograms of produce from two raised beds in one cycle.
Raptineshela’s Vegetable Farm sells its products within the barangay and as part of the KADIWA. Most notably, though, their Facebook page draws plenty of attention, so they sell through social media and deliver products to others' doorsteps. Coffee shops, in particular, are in high demand for their lettuce. It has gotten to the point that they cannot keep up with client demands.
Grow More, Do More
Raschel sees opportunities in the future of Raptineshela’s Vegetable Farm. Currently, the farm is not certified as an organic farm, which can help add value to the products and increase prices. Likewise, a certification can add a layer of trustworthiness to the enterprise and bring in more clients. Raschel sees her products as having the potential to reach markets and groceries.
The farm's produce adds income to Raschel's family and is helping the household. To sustain the farm, Raschel and her family see two main goals: Expansion to meet high demands and certification to increase the value of the products.
Plant Seeds, Harvest Gold: Ms. Raschel's Message to Other Youth
Raschel sees herself staying on her agri journey as a farmer because of the opportunities for a better life. It is the closest path to her family's way of life and where she learned to be responsible, patient, and loving.
Likewise, she sees how crucial it is for the youth to be aware of the agri-fishery sector. "Iniisip ko rin po, kapag wala nang susunod sa mga matatandang farmers and then sa matatandang fishermen, mawawalan na tayo ng pagkukuhanan ng pagkain. Kakaunti nalang po tayo. Kakaunti na po ang nag-didive-in into agriculture and fisheries po."
Raschel emphasizes how the government is handing out grants and scholarships for new generations of farmers and fishers and how taking this leap will open doors for new earning potentials. And not only do farmers and fishers earn substantially, but they feed and support the whole community.
Farmers like Raschel are examples of how the youth can be an impactful part of society while providing a liveable earning for their family. And other young people can be a part of this new generation of agri-fishery workers if they open their minds and hearts to this opportunity.
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