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MENTORING AND ATTRACTING YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS (MAYA)

A Revitalized Internship Program of

Agricultural Training Institute

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Global

  • The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has projected the slow global growth rate ranging to 2.6% through 2026, which limits economic growth of developing countries, such as Philippines.

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National

  • Philippine agriculture low productivity and income due to factors such as shrinking farm sizes, poor infrastructure, climate change impacts, post-harvest loss, and weak market links;
  • An aging farmer population ranging from 55 to 59 years old;
  • A significant decline of 1.56 million in agricultural employment based on the Philippine Statistics Authority Labor Survey Report in 2024;
  • Youth are losing interest in agriculture as a field and as a degree program

GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED

OCT 2004

References

1 https://unctad.org/news/global-growth-expected-slow-26-through-2026

2Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project

3Philippine Action Plan for Family farming 2019-2028

4 https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/labor-force-survey/press-release/node/1684065581

5https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol104/iss2/1/

Rationale

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To address these gaps, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has continuously implemented programs to entice and engage Filipino youth in agriculture and fishery sector by reframing agriculture beyond subsistence farming, but as a dynamic sector integrating technology, entrepreneurship, and value-chain development. One of the DA key thrusts involves positioning agribusiness and/or agripreneurship as a viable, innovative, and future-ready career path for the youth.

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OCT 2004

References

1 https://unctad.org/news/global-growth-expected-slow-26-through-2026

2Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project

3Philippine Action Plan for Family farming 2019-2028

4 https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/labor-force-survey/press-release/node/1684065581

5https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol104/iss2/1/

Rationale

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EMPLOYMENT TRACK

  • 688 out of 790(87%)

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRACK

  • 102 out of 790 (13%)

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MENTORING AND ATTRACTING YOUTH IN AGRIBUSINESS (MAYA)

OCT 2004

References

1 https://unctad.org/news/global-growth-expected-slow-26-through-2026

2Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project

3Philippine Action Plan for Family farming 2019-2028

4 https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/labor-force-survey/press-release/node/1684065581

5https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol104/iss2/1/

790 graduates

The MAYA Program was implemented by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) in 2021.

Background

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Capacitate 160 interns with technical knowledge and soft skills, and experience-based exposure in agriculture-related offices and enterprises under the supervision of a professional;

Goal and Objectives

Goal

The MAYA Program aims to empower Filipino youth to become skilled professionals in agriculture-related agencies and future agri-entrepreneurs to accelerate agricultural development.

Objectives

Enhanced capacity and employability of 20% of interns in the employment track; and

Provide financial support to the 80% of interns in the entrepreneurship track to establish/upscale agribusiness enterprises.

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Program Description

The MAYA Program is a 6-month internship program designed to capacitate the youth through mentorship, which includes a program introductory orientation, basic skills training, and 20 weeks of on-site internship.

Entrepreneurship Track

Employment Track

  • 30 target interns

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  • Work Assignment: Agriculture-related offices such as Department of Agriculture (DA) bureaus and attached agencies, DA-Regional Offices, Local Government Unit (LGU)-Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and other agriculture-related organizations for office work assignment.

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  • Sustainability Efforts: You will be hired as Job Order/Contractual/Permanent Employee upon passing the employment evaluation.
  • 130 target interns

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  • Field Assignment: Department of Trade Industry (DTI)- accredited agri-enterprises, progressive Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs), Farmer Cooperatives and Associations, and private companies related to agriculture to perform agribusiness activities.

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  • Sustainability Efforts: Provision of Start-up capital support for agri-enterprises amounting to Php 150,000. Additional incentives amounting to Php 150,000 will be awarded to Top 5 BEPs

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Beneficiaries/Stakeholders

Graduates or graduating college students of a four-year degree course or graduates of K-to-12 program/Technical Vocational courses, 18 to 35 years of age, and willing to be undergo hands-on training and deployment for office work assignment (for Employment Track) or to a field assignment (Entrepreneurship Track) to perform agribusiness activities from input production, farm operation, farm operations and management, food/non-food processing equipment and supplies manufacturing, trading, marketing and retailing.

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Career Changers are also welcome to apply, provided they are willing to transition to a new industry, expand their professional network, and incorporate their professional skills into the MAYA Internship program.

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Eligibility and Documentary Requirements

INTERNS

Eligibility Criteria

Documentary Requirements

  1. Natural-born Filipino citizen aged 18 to 35 years old, single, and unemployed at the time of deployment.

Clear scanned copy of PSA birth certificate or any valid government-issued ID (i.e. PRC, National ID, Voters' ID, etc.) indicating date of birth.

  1. A graduate/ graduating student of a four-year degree course, preferably in agriculture and agriculture-related fields

Graduates of the K-to-12 program and/or Technical Vocational courses related to the field of agriculture

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Certified copy of Diploma and TOR

Certificate of Candidate for Graduation

  1. Preferably with CSC-eligibility or PRC-licensed

Photocopy of CSC-Eligibility certification or PRC ID

  1. Willing to undertake the 6-month internship program

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Notarized Sworn Statement

  1. Must not be related by consanguinity or affinity within 2nd degree to any ATI employee (e.i, parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, spouse, parent-in-law, daughter/son-in-law)
  1. Physically and mentally fit

Medical Certificate indicating “Fit to Work” and no underlying health condition as supported by:

  • Drug test
  • X-ray
  • Complete Blood Count
  • Urinalysis
  • Pregnancy Test
  • ECG

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Mental Health Fitness Certificate must be issued by a psychiatrist.

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Eligibility and Documentary Requirements

INTERNS

Eligibility Criteria

Documentary Requirements

  1. Has good community standing

At least two (2) Certification from a community leader (e.g., barangay captain, parish priest, school principal, civil society organization, farmers’ cooperative, or association) attesting the applicant has good moral character

  1. Others

Certification of no overdue obligations from DA or ATI at the time of application, not a previous intern or grantee of any ATI internship program, and not a recipient of any DA grants

Photocopy of Certificate of related training attended, if any

Original copy Police Clearance and/ or NBI

Identified the possible location of agribusiness enterprise (photos and location, if possible)

Accomplished Application Form

Accomplished Pre-internship Survey Form

  1. Has good community standing

At least two (2) Certification from a community leader (e.g., barangay captain, parish priest, school principal, civil society organization, farmers’ cooperative, or association) attesting the applicant has good moral character

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Partners

DTI/SEC/CSO/CDA-accredited Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs), Farmer Cooperatives and Associations, Accreditation of Private Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Service Provider (PAF-ESP), and private companies and establishments with agribusiness ventures

ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRACK: AGRI-ENTERPRISES

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Eligibility and Documentary Requirements

PARTNERS: AGRI-ENTERPRISES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRACK

Eligibility Criteria

Documentary Requirements

DTI/SEC/CSO/CDA- accredited agrienterprises

DTI/ SEC/ CDA/ CSO registration certificates

Business Permit

Photocopy of Audited Financial documents for the past three (3) years, which include Income Tax Return (ITR), Bookkeeping records, etc.

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Preferably operational for 10 years. Businesses operational for five (5) years may be considered subject to financial assessment

Has agribusiness activities/ operations

Organizational Structure with Mandates and Functions (specifically the specific activities where interns will be assigned)

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List of Potential Duties and Responsibilities of Interns

Willing to accept and mentor interns during the 20 weeks of the on-site internship program.

Notarized Sworn Statement as proof of willingness and commitment to become a MAYA Partner

Others

Letter of intent addressed to the DA-ATI Regional Director

Certificate of Participation to Agri-Trade Fair (if any)

Accomplished Application Form

Accomplished Pre-internship Survey

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Partners

Agriculture-related offices such as DA bureaus and attached agencies, DA-Regional Offices, LGU-Municipal Agriculture Office, and other agriculture-related organizations for office work assignments.

EMPLOYMENT TRACK: HANDLING OFFICES

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Eligibility and Documentary Requirements

PARTNERS: HANDLING OFFICES FOR EMPLOYMENT TRACK

Eligibility Criteria

Documentary Requirements

Agriculture-related offices such as DA bureaus and attached agencies, DA-Regional Offices, LGU-Municipal Agriculture Office, and private companies, among others.

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Organizational Structure with Mandates and Functions (specifically the specific activities where interns will be assigned)

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List of Potential Duties and Responsibilities of Interns

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With divisions/departments/units /operations related to agribusiness, where interns will be assigned.

Willing to accept and mentor interns during the 20 weeks of the on-site internship program.

Notarized Sworn Statement as proof of willingness and commitment to become a MAYA Partner

Willing to hire the interns as JO/COS or permanent employees after the 6-month internship program, upon assessment of intern performance.

Others

Letter of intent addressed to the DA-ATI Regional Director

Accomplished Application Form

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Accomplished Pre-internship Survey

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Benefits

During 5-month internship

  • Minimum of P500.00 daily allowance for 5 months

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After Internship

  • Employment Opportunities for the Employment Track
  • Start-up capital support amounting to Php 150,000.00 for the Entrepreneurship Track, upon approval of the Business Enterprise Plans (BEPs) and Additional incentives amounting to Php 150,000.00 for Top 5 BEPs under Entrepreneurship Track

MAYA Interns

  • Additional Human Resource

MAYA Partners

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Schedule of Activities

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Activity

Year 1

Year 2

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Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

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Recruitment and Selection

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Endorsement to NSC

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Desk Evaluation

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NSC Deliberation

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Issuance of Memorandum

-accepted and eligible Interns and Farm Partners

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Orientation of Qualified Interns and Signing of MOU and Contract

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Basic Skills Training

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5-month onsite internship program

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Wrap Up Activity (culminating and post-assessment) and Business Pitching and Awarding

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National Business Pitching and Awarding of Top 5 BEPs

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Business Enterprise Plan (BEP) implementation

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12 months

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RELEVANT LINKS

Logo:

https://tinyurl.com/MAYAlogo2026

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MAYA forms:

https://tinyurl.com/MAYAforms

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Advance Copy of Guidelines:

https://tinyurl.com/advcopyMAYAguidelines

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