Anticipating the gradual easing up of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) restrictions, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has partnered with Go Negosyo and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for a mentoring program for agri-entrepreneurs, farmers, and fishers.
The Kapatid Agri Mentor Me Program (KAMMP) aims to nurture and sustain agribusiness through coaching and mentoring.
It is implemented through collaboration with government entities, including the DA-Agricultural Training Institute.
“Agripreneurship unleashes the potential of Philippine agriculture to make it more resilient, and continue to be a dependable contributor to the economy. We need to promote more agripreneurship under the new normal environment,” said DA Secretary William Dar during the virtual signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Monday.
The MOA states that DA, Go Negosyo, and LBP shall commit to support and provide innovations for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and improve the lives of Filipinos amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Go Negosyo, an advocacy of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, promotes programs that will address poverty through entrepreneurship and developing an “optimistic, passionate, creative and innovative, resourceful, diligent, and persevering character”.
KAMMP will promote inclusive growth by promoting financial accessibility and focusing on the “three M” principles of Go Negosyo: Money, Market, and Mentor.
Dar pledged the agency’s full support, stressing the need to multiply and promulgate MSMEs in the agriculture sector.
He said the DA will continue to seek better ways and innovate to transform food producers into agripreneurs and populate the agribusiness ecosystem.
“In spite of the challenges of the times, the DA will identify ideas and projects that support agripreneurship and vowed to cover more grounds to expand the services of the government to more farmers and fishers,” Dar, one of the program mentors, said.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Secretary Joey Concepcion, the Go Negosyo founder, said one of the goals of the initiative is to open the economy and enable it to co-exist with Covid-19.
“If we can do that, the future of the Philippines will be bright. I am optimistic with what we are doing right now,” Concepcion said during the ceremony.
LBP president Cecille Borromeo said they continuously design credit windows and financial assistance packages, custom-made for the needs of agriculture to widen credit access of farmers, fishers, and MSMEs.
“We will continue with our designated role, by providing accessible and credible credit assistance and pursue a perfect synergy of pursuing purposive initiatives in the time of the pandemic,” she said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
