The Regional Training Center of the Agricultural Training Institute in the Cordillera Administrative Region conceptualized the program: "Engaging the Young Generations Towards Innovative Agri-Enterprise" (ENGINE), to prepare young entrepreneurs to be the "Youth Ambassadors of Goodwill" for their fellow youth to emulate their successes in the field towards agri-preneurship. Thus, on August 21-23, 2024 a Training entitled "Capability Building for Youth Ambassadors on the Implementation of ENGINE Program: Entrepreneurial Mind Setting for the ENGINE Movers for Effective Program Implementation" held at the Dam-muh-han hall, ATI-RTC-CAR, BSU Compd., La Trinidad, Benguet.
The ENGINE is a youth-oriented developmental program designed to address and adapt the following concerns: farmers are aging and there is no assurance of successor farmers for food production; agricultural schools observed a down trend in agricultural courses; agriculture has always been viewed as lowly job, poor income and a burdensome job; with the emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the youth can easily adapt new farming and processing technologies compared with the aging farmers; and the role of youth in food production is critical, their continued decline of interest in the agriculture will affect food production in the country.
With this concept, there is a need to help these young agri-preneurs to become inspiring leaders and role models in cultivating an appreciation for agri-preneurship for the younger generation and capacitating them to effectively perform their functions as "Youth Ambassadors of Goodwill" and enabling them to effectively lead the youths venturing in agriculture at the same time effectively managing their farm operations.
Mr. Edmund B. Benavidez, a private entrepreneurial expert is the sole resource person for the training revealed the following topics to the participants: The Basic Concepts of an Enterprise exposing the Entrepreneurial Process, the Business Development Cycle, and Wealth Creation; The Farmer as an Entrepreneur which disclosed the four corners of the Johari Window, Qualities of a Successful Agripreneur, and the Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies; and The Farm as an Enterprise which covered goal setting and visioning, dream farm, project identification, analysis of the farm business and farm inventory.Β Β The resource person ensured that every participant would enjoy the training thus he exposed the participants to a series of game-changing experiences for them to enjoy and interpret the game relative to unlocking their entrepreneurial competencies.Β He shared, simulated, and pointed out examples of agri-entrepreneurial skills as well as insights and experiences on sustainable farming and market strategies. He uses Farm Entre Games to make the lessons more entertaining and easy for the attendees to understand.
A total of 30 young agri-preneurs attended the said training.
