LOS BAÑOS, Laguna— The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus in Laguna is currently abuzz with activity as 130 young farmers, farmers and fisherfolksfrom across the Asia-Pacific region convene for the inaugural Asia-Pacific Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics (YFCA) from August 12 to 16, 2024. 
This significant event, organized by the Asian Farmers Association (AFA), the International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific (ICA-AP), and the Partnership of Farmers Organizations (PFO), aims to strengthen youth engagement in agricultural development.
The five-day camp is designed to foster an enabling environment for young people to actively participate in agriculture. According to the Asian Farmers Association, the YFCA is expected to achieve several key objectives, including raising public awareness among youth that farming can be both a fun and viable career and encouraging agricultural cooperatives and farmers' organizations to engage their youth members more effectively, particularly in cooperative governance.
The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), recognized as the capacity builder, knowledge bank, and catalyst of the Philippine Agriculture and Fishery Systems, is one of the event's partners and supporters. The ATI has sent nine delegates from its Regional Training Centers in SOCCSKSARGEN, Northern Mindanao, CaLaBaRZon, Bicol Region, and its Central Office to participate in the camp.
The YFCA will feature a series of engaging activities, including games and friendly competitions that test participants' agricultural skills and knowledge. One of the event’s highlights is a call-to-action pitching session, where participants will present their innovative plans in policy advocacy, capacity building, and business development. Selected organizations will have the opportunity to receive technical or financial support to implement their ideas.
Additionally, the event will host a knowledge market share fair, allowing young farmers to showcase their initiatives, products, and services to their peers and partners. Mentorship and exchange sessions will provide invaluable opportunities for seasoned farmers to share their expertise with the younger generation, promoting the intergenerational sustainability of agriculture.
Participants have traveled from various 19 countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, underscoring the event's broad regional significance.
The First Asia-Pacific Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics is more than just an event—it's a movement to inspire, connect, and empower the next generation of agricultural leaders across Asia and the Pacific.