Diliman, Quezon City- Twenty-three interns of the Young Filipino Farm Leaders Training Program in Japan (YFFLTPJ) Batch 2024 concluded their six-day post-training evaluation and re-entry planning this February 25,2025 at the Maria Orosa Hall, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Central Office.
The event marks a significant milestone as they reflected on their transformative experiences during their 11-month internship in Japan, and prepared to implement their learnings in the Philippines.
During the event, ATI Director Remelyn R. Recoter emphasized the importance of their training in shaping them into future agricultural leaders.
“Building a sustainable future requires understanding the interconnectedness between youth participation, government actions, and a vibrant agricultural sector. As future farm leaders, you hold a significant responsibility to ensure prosperity and resilience in this vital sector,” Recoter said.
She also encouraged them to apply their newly acquired skills to benefit their local farms and communities, and assured them of continued support from the Department of Agriculture and the ATI.
Throughout the activity, the interns shared firsthand accounts of their immersion in Japan’s advanced agricultural practices, highlighting the skills and knowledge they gained. They engaged in discussions covering five key areas: lessons learned, personal development, best practices, challenges faced, and program improvement suggestions.
The event also served as a platform for learning and collaboration, as they work with mentors and experts to refine their projects and develop actionable re-entry plans.
Ms. Lian Janelle Valencia, Development Management Officer I of the ATI-Partnerships and Accreditation Division, introduced the concept of Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSA), and encouraged them to establish their own LSAs to promote innovative agricultural practices. Also, to help them craft structured plans for their agricultural projects, two young agripreneurs, who were both recipients of the Young Farmers Challenge and the Binhi ng Pag-asa Program, spoke in a plenary session titled “Bringing Ideas to Life: The Entrepreneurial Journey from Vision to Venture.” Additionally, a Life, Health, and Wellness Consultation Session was also conducted, led by Mr. June Canicosa Hebrew, LPT, MA, RPSY of NobleProg, to help the interns manage stress and develop emotional resilience as they geared towards agribusiness.
As part of their after-training support, the interns received Php 50,000 each to kickstart their agricultural ventures. They will reconvene on August 2025 to pitch their agribusiness proposals. The best three proposals will receive an additional P150,000 funding.
The YFFLTPJ is a collaborative initiative between the Philippines and Japan, through the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC), and the ATI.
