Aggie grads urged to become entrepreneurs

CAMILING, Tarlac – Be entrepreneurs.

Thus Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-DAR) enjoined graduates of agricultural institutions in the country to help strengthen the national economy.

Entrepreneurs can considerably boost the country’s economy, he stressed at the recent graduation ceremonies of the Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA) in this historic town.

Challenging the graduates to become strong components of the agriculture sector, Eleazar asserted: "The time and money invested in you can all be transformed to better lives through entrepreneurship in farming and agribusiness.

He commended the commencement exercises’ theme, "Entrepreneurship in State Universities and Colleges for a Strong Republic," stressing that the new Filipino is an entrepreneur.

"Entrepreneurs are people who are creative and innovative; who see opportunities and put together the resources needed to take advantage of these opportunities; and who create and grow their own enterprises, sometimes over and over again," he stressed in a speech read for him by Dr. Carmencity Kagaoan, head of BAR’s Project Development Division.

This may include self-employed individuals and business owners across all sectors, including tourism, retail, services, and agriculture.

That the government, in its effort to build a strong republic, has been giving utmost importance to entrepreneurship can best be exemplified by President Arroyo’s appointment of Jose Maria Concepcion III, CEO and president of RFM, as her presidential consultant on entrepreneurship.

Eleazar recalled that when asked about his plans for the country’s entrepreneurship program, Concepcion asserted: "Entrepreneurship is the vehicle that will spur better business climate in the country and bring back the dignity and confidence of the Filipinos."

Another strong indication that the government encourages young entrepreneurs is the Young Farmers Program (YFP), Eleazar pointed out.

YFP was created to address the problem of unemployment and to assist fresh graduates in putting up their own businesses.

Introduced by the government through Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., being the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, the YFP encourages fresh graduates in agriculture and related courses and "budding entrepreneurs" in the countryside to engage in farming and agribusiness ventures.

Participants in the program have come from various universities and schools such as Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines, and Quirino State College. The young farmers come from a far as Bukidnon, Surigao del Sur, Leyte, and Oriental Mindoro.

For its part, DA-BAR has been in the forefront in coming up with innovations. For instance, its Research and Development (R&D) program have been focused on technology commercialization and resource mobilization.

Eleazar also said that DA-BAR and TCA, as well as other state colleges and universities in the country have been enjoying dynamic partnership in implementing research project.