YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP GRANT ON ORGANIC FARMING 2023

Introduction

One way to promote organic agriculture, and thereby expand the system, is by provision of scholarships and trainings. The DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) implement several scholarship programs and trainings on agriculture, including organic agriculture. However, even with these programs, there are few entrants to the sector, especially among the youth. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive approach in the provision of scholarship to include intensified and extensive hands-on training on farm, provision of start-up project support fund for the trainees, and mentoring during the implementation of enterprise project of the trainees.

This scholarship program is a highly specialized internship program designed to instill and develop in the trainees an appreciation and eagerness for organic agriculture and eventually adopt it as their source of income. It differs from other scholarship programs which provided tuition fee and stipend only. The program provides start-up support and mentoring for the implementation of their business plan. Thus, empowering the youth to become organic agripreneur.

Patterned after the internship program of the Korean Government wherein, there is 100% engagement of their scholars in agriculture sector after the training completion, the 21-month internship program for the youth is aimed to fully imbibe the “life of a farmer” and the organic practices; it comprises of nine-month schooling and on-site training to the farm partners, and one-year hands-on practice and implementation of proposed organic enterprise to fully.

The program aims to provide all-out support to the trainees until their enterprises are established and made profit to ensure sustainability and to boost their morale. As they complete the program, they will stay as farmer by heart and mind.

The provisions under this Memorandum Circular are sanctioned and approved by the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB), and aim to lay down the criteria, rules, and procedures to avail the scholarship grant.

Objectives

The program aims to contribute to the attainment of food sovereignty through ensuring the availability of healthy agricultural produce and products grown, raised and developed in a healthy and safe environment.

Primarily, the program aims to encourage the youth, develop and train them to become organic farmers and practitioners. Specifically, it aims to:

• equip the youth with knowledge and skills in organic agriculture practices;
• increase organic agriculture practitioners, and organic agriculture related enterprise;
• increase organic agriculture areas; and
• increase adopters of organic agriculture practices.

Scope and Coverage

The program is a collaborative effort between the DA- NOAP and the DA- ATI and shall be implemented nationwide enjoining the youth. The program targets 150 youth, enjoining women, out-of-school youth, and degree holders, and 75 farm partners coming from different provinces practicing chemical-free and/or organic farming system, as beneficiaries.

For 21 months, the trainees will be given a monthly stipend while the farm partners will receive a mentoring fee. Towards the end of the 1st year-implementation, the start-up support will be released to the trainees for the implementation of their proposed organic enterprise under the supervision of farm partners. The start-up support will be used for all the materials and requirements of the trainees for his/her enterprise including site rental, planting materials, facilities, equipment, among others.

Considering that the trainees are still starting their businesses, they need monthly assistance for their food and other basis needs, thus a continuous monthly stipend and mentorship fee will be provided to the trainees and farm partners, respectively.

The grants will be given to 150 trainees and shall cover the following:

Eligibility and Documentary Requirements

There are two key players in this program, classified as: a) farm partners; and b) trainees.

Farmer-Partners: 

Qualification:

1. Farm owner/operator of certified organic or chemical free farm, preferably LSA
2. Must be in operation for at least 1 year
3. Has farm activities within the value chain either production, value adding, processing or marketing;
4. Has basic farm tools, equipment or facilities needed for its operation
5. Has accommodation facility for 2 trainees
6. Has internship program plan from March to November within a year
7. With good community standing and has no proven derogatory record
8. Farm area is not part of military identified conflict zones

Requirements:

1. Notarized Affidavit as owner/operator of an organic and/or chemical-free farm; Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) certification, if applicable
2. Farm journal; Financial statement for the previous year’s operation
3. Farm layout and Photos of farm and its facilities including accommodation areas and List and biodata of resource persons/trainers;
4. Internship Program plan and design including performance evaluation and post-internship assessment
5. At least two (2) recommendations letter from a community leader (e.g. barangay captain, parish priest, school principal, civil society organization, farmers’ cooperative or association)
6. Certification from the respective AFP infantry division
7. Letter of Intent

Trainees: 

Qualifications:

1. Age 18 to 35 years old at the time of application
2. Natural born Filipino citizen
3. Interested to enter the agriculture industry, especially practice organic agriculture
4. Willingness to undertake 21-month internship and hands-on practice contract
5. Physically and mentally fit
6. Has good community standing or moral character

Requirements:

1. Clear scanned copy of any valid government issued ID (indicating the date of birth)
2. Notarized Sworn Statement as proof of willingness and commitment to undertake organic agriculture-related activities/enterprises after the training;
3. Business Model Canvas (BMC)
4. Medical certificate indicating “fit to work”
5. At least two (2) recommendation letters from a community leader (e.g. barangay captain, parish priest, school principal, civil society organization, farmers’ cooperative or association)
6. Bank account details, preferably LBP if available
7. Accomplished application form

Application

Interested applicants for farm partners and trainees may address their letter of intent to ENGR. JOEY A. BELARMINO, PhD, Training Center Superintendent II/Center Director.  Submission of application can be done physically or via email. For interested applicants in Central Luzon Region, kindly send in your application and documentary requirements to: atiregion3@ati.da.gov.ph or visit our office at Government Complex, San Ramon, Dinalupihan, Bataan. 

Application forms will be posted once available.  For inquiries, kindly contact Ms. Zarah Jane N. Sendrijas, Organic Agriculture Focal Person at 0975-853-9192. 

Screening Process

All applications shall undergo screening process by the Screening and Selection Committee. The Committee shall assess and verify the completeness and accuracy of the documents submitted by the applicants.

All applicants shall undergo prioritization ranking based on the following criteria to select the target number of trainees:

1 Graduate of 4-year course

Out of school youth