THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture on Friday said they are now creating a new breed of youth as more young Filipinos are now engaged and earning in farming.

The DA made the statement as part of their assessment on the pilot implementation of the Youth Intern Program for Organic Agriculture or YIPOA.

“Mayroon pong isang kabataang babae, out of school youth, 22 anyos lang, kumikita po ng PHP1,200 to PHP1,500 a day sa pagbebenta po ng itlog ng itik,” DA-National Organic Agriculture Program Director Bernadette San Juan said.

San Juan also cited a 70-percent harvest on one of the YIPOA’s beneficiaries’ poultry production.

YIPOA is the DA’s nine-month internship program where enrolled youth beneficiaries are directly deployed in fields under farmer-partners nationwide, with a P5,000 allowance each.

Program beneficiaries are trained in planting crops, raising livestock, creation of natural fertilizers, troubleshooting of agricultural machinery, and food processing, among others.

It was learned that those who complete the nine-month internship are given P150,000 worth of capital, with PHP10,000 worth of allowance for the succeeding months while awaiting harvest.

San Juan said the YIPOA is positively accepted among the youth.

“Iba na po kasi ang kabataan ngayon. Hindi na sila nakakulong sa dating kamalayan nung tayo ay kaga-graduate lang na rat race, Makati ang iniisip natin di ba. Ngayon iba na po sila. Open na po sila na ang lifestyle ay farm,” she said.

To date, there are 150 youth beneficiaries under the YIPOA.