DA’s Young Farmers Challenge leads to eco-friendly products

By: April Grace Padilla

Buruanga, Aklan-What started as a research study back in 2020 is now a viable source of sustainable, eco-friendly products that benefit both the community and the environment.

Commonly viewed as a mere weed that pesters the fields, paragis or palagtiki was processed and transformed into eco-friendly paper, which can be used to make envelopes, paper bags, and egg trays. Through the innovative ideas of two youth from the province of Aklan, these ingenious creations have recently gained recognition and support under the Department of Agriculture (DA) Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Division’s Young Farmers Challenge (YFC).

The DA’s Young Farmers Challenge program is a nationwide initiative that encourages young Filipinos to establish and grow innovative agribusiness ventures. It provides financial grants, mentorship, and opportunities for nationwide exposure to help young people turn their agricultural and fishery ideas into sustainable businesses. The program targets individuals aged 18-30 with promising agri-fishery business concepts.

The said initiative has evolved into tangible products as childhood friends and former classmates Cedreyk B. Iguiron and Jenny Salmingo of Barangay Nazareth, Buruanga town in Aklan, teamed up to develop products from paragis grass. They were both graduates from Aklan State University, where Salmingo earned a degree in agriculture while Iguiron pursued a degree in communication.

Beyond friendship, the two became partners back in their senior high school years in harnessing the untapped potential of paragis. It eventually grew into a unique venture. It created an income opportunity for farmers and helped address plastic pollution.

“We sourced our raw materials (paragis grass) from farmers—the Habana Farmers Association. This helped them generate additional income, as well as get rid of the invasive paragis grass that may hinder crop growth,” Salmingo said.

Not only does this help the farmers’ community in the province, but it also helps address plastic pollution.

As an employee of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office of Buruanga town, Salmingo is exposed to environmental issues plaguing the local community.

She sees the danger of plastic pollution, from which she drew inspiration in producing an eco-friendly product, the “Ecosheets.”

Observing the same environmental issues, Iguiron, a broadcaster for a local radio station, saw that this concern not only threatens the natural habitat but also the community.

This then led him to help advance the green and sustainable Ecosheets initiative.

Armed with advocacy skills and innovative minds, the two decided to participate in the YFC competition that earned them P80,000 in winnings.

That gave them the chance to collaborate with DA Western Visayas, where they were provided with further assistance and opportunities.

Support for their project also came pouring in as the local government unit of Buruanga has given Ecosheets hands-on support, enabling them to promote their product and maintain a steady customer base.

The LGU also recognized the contribution of Ecosheets to their relentless efforts to reduce plastic use and preserve the natural resources of Buruanga.

Targeting to expand their ventures into larger-scale manufacturing, the two are planning to establish a production facility, as Salmingo’s humble home currently doubles as their initial processing site.

Aside from their customized eco-bags and envelopes, the duo plans to create more paper-made products and widen their reach. Advocating for zero-waste production, they likewise started processing the scrap sheets of their paragis paper, shaping them into quail egg trays.

With this, Iguiron shared advice to his fellow youth: “Don’t let your crazy ideas be hindered by doubt – what seemed to be impossible at first may be your greatest innovation,” he said.

Amid all the doubts, the two took a leap of faith and worked hard to realize their vision. From mere grass, paragis was transformed into a material with purpose, serving as an answer to worsening environmental degradation caused by the use of non-biodegradable materials. As YFC opened more doors of opportunity for young agripreneurs like them, their commitment to their environmental advocacy didn’t waver- it only got better and wider over time. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6 with reports from DA Western Visayas)