Jollibee Foods Corp. announced that it allocated PHP10 million to train 1,000 Filipino youth farmers nationwide under its agro-enterprise management program.
On the sidelines of the event, Jollibee Group Foundation Executive Director Ma. Gisela Tiongson told the Philippine News Agency that the company aims to add 30 partners from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and local government units (LGUs) to identify youth farmers that will benefit under the program.
She added that the Foundation already has 22 partner-NGOs and LGUs from its existing programs.
The Foundation eyes community-based youth farmers as well as senior high school students and students pursuing agriculture courses to be part of the agro-enterprise management training.
“Aside from production, they will learn how to do marketing, financial management, and other elements under enterprise management,” Tiongson said.
Tiongson also said the Foundation is also working with academic institutions to integrate agro-enterprise management in their curriculum.
She identified that STI Tanauan in Batangas and Don Bosco campuses in Mati, Davao Oriental and Legazpi City, Albay have established partnership with Jollibee Group Foundation.
“As a food company we know that the sustainability of our industry also relies on the sustainability of the agriculture sector,” Tiongson said.
“Currently, the average age of Filipino farmer is 57 years old. So that means our farmers are ageing. So if we want the sector to thrive and to continue, then we need to make agriculture a cool thing for young farmers to get into,” she noted.
(Report via PNA)
Photo Credit: Flickr
