To help strengthen grassroots agricultural development, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Phase 2 Program in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) partnered with Benguet State University (BSU) to provide hands-on training to aspiring agripreneurs through an internship program.
From June 2 to July 17, 2025, three BSU students taking up Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness – Elizar A. Menis, Karl Russel P. Fermin, and Dave D. Villano – were deployed under the Program’s Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) Sub-unit, where they assisted in core SAAD activities geared toward farmers’ enterprise development and capacity building.
The internship was part of SAAD CAR’s broader efforts to engage the next generation in agricultural innovation and rural development. By integrating youth into its operations, the Program not only enhances field implementation but also contributes to the DA’s goal of making agriculture an attractive and viable career path for young Filipinos.
Throughout their 240-hour engagement, the interns contributed to a range of technical and community-based activities. These included assisting in bookkeeping and financial literacy training for farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs), updating operational manuals, and participating in development workshops.
A key highlight was their participation in the recently conducted FY 2025 Regional Mid-Year Assessment held in Sagada, Mountain Province, where they observed firsthand how SAAD monitors and evaluates its work with grassroots communities.
To cap off their internship, the students presented their own product proposals – sweet potato macaroons, ube halaya, and dayaw camote cue – designed to align with the needs and raw materials available to local FCAs. The presentations were met with constructive feedback from SAAD staff, who lauded the students’ creativity and market orientation.
“We intentionally designed the internship to be skills-based and field-integrated,” said Jon Ray K. Waking, Associate Project Officer of the MAED Unit. “This way, they gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to work in development while building their potential as future agri-entrepreneurs.”
The internship officially concluded on July 18, with a send-off and appreciation program at DA-CAR. Earlier, the students were also recognized by BSU on July 4, where they presented their internship outputs and DA-SAAD CAR was awarded a certificate of appreciation for its continued role as a training ground for future agricultural leaders.
By opening its doors to young professionals, DA-SAAD CAR not only shares its expertise in grassroots development – it also plants the seeds of transformation among the next generation of agricultural workers, entrepreneurs, and advocates.
“Thank you for guiding us and preparing us to become agri-entrepreneurs,” intern Karl Russel P. Fermin shared. “This opportunity to engage with farmers has been invaluable.” ###
