The Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Credit Policy Council (DA-ACPC) officially launched its newest loan programs, the Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs (KAYA) and Agri-Negosyo, on January 24, 2020 at the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU), Magalang, Pampanga.

The KAYA Program will finance capital requirements of start-up or existing agri-based projects of young entrepreneurs and agri-fishery graduates aged 18-30 years old.

“Gusto ko talagang mahikayat ang mga millennials na bumalik sa agrikultura at mag-negosyo din,” said DA Secretary William D. Dar, who led the said activity. 

The DA-ACPC will engage Government financial institutions (GFI) such as the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) together with non-GFIs including cooperative banks, rural banks, cooperatives, and viable non-government organization (NGOs) to implement said program which offers up to P500,000 loan per borrower payable not more than five years at 0% interest with not more than 3.5% management fee. 

“Masaya kami dahil ito ang pinakahihintay ng kabataang magsasaka at mangingisda ng bansa – ang magkaroon ng programa para sa kanila tulad ng KAYA Loan Program,” said Ricmel Falqueza, President of the 4H Club National Federation.

“Malaking tulong para sa mga kabataang entrepreneurs ang KAYA upang makita nila ang kanilang potensyal at mahasa ang kanilang kaalaman sa pagne-negosyo habang sila’y naghahanda para sa kanilang kinabukasan,” said Mr. Nelan Bondoc, Adviser of the Green Youth Army Philippines.

The Agri-Negosyo Program, on the other hand, will finance income-generating agri-fishery activities and working capital and/or fixed asset acquisition requirements of individuals/sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations, and cooperatives whose owners or members are marginal or small farmers and fisherfolk.

According to Sec. Dar, the said program will help individuals or enterprises that wants to scale up their business.  

Under the program’s Micro Agri-Negosyo Loan facility, borrowers may loan up to P300,000 payable up to five years and channeled thru ACPC lending conduits.

Moreover, under its Small Agri-Negosyo Loan facility, borrowers may avail themselves of loan amounting to P300,000 up to P15 million payable depending on the loan purpose and channeled through GFIs.

As support component to the two new innovative programs, the DA-ACPC shall engage State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), government agencies such as the Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and business development services (BDS) to train and mentor the loan beneficiaries.

“Through DBP’s partnership with the ACPC, we can help our young agripreneurs and micro and small agribusiness enterprises grow their agri-fishery projects through KAYA and Agri-Negosyo programs,” said DBP Vice President Paul Lazaro.

“Patuloy ang LANDBANK na makikipag-ugnayan sa DA-ACPC sa pagpapatupad ng credit programs para mas madali para sa mga young agripreneurs and micro and small agribusiness enterprises na makapag-avail ng loans para sa kanilang agri-fishery projects,” said Ms. Jennielyn Zabala of LANDBANK Lending Center Pampanga.

“Malaking oportunidad ang bagong mga programa ng ACPC para sa mga kabataan para mag-negosyo. This is their time!” said Mr. Gerlito Lanojan of the Rural Bank of Rizal, one of ACPC’s potential partner lending conduit for the programs.  

The two programs, designed to address the financial needs of marginal and small farmers and fisherfolk for fast, convenient and affordable credit, were allocated P1 billion each by the ACPC Governing Council during its 67^th meeting on January 8, 2020.

The launching activity, which coincided with the 5^th anniversary of the PSAU, was participated by representatives from DA and its attached agencies and bureaus, GFIs, potential partner lending conduits, academe and youth groups.