Two CSU alumni set to represent DA-ATI’s young farm leaders training program in Japan

Engr. Blessy C. Cuesta and Mark Vincent D. Concha, R.Agri., both graduates of Caraga State University (CSU) Main Campus, have been officially selected as delegates for the Young Filipino Farm Leaders Training Program in Japan (YFFLTPJ) – Batch 2026.  The two CSU alumni, who earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and in Agriculture – Agricultural Economics, respectively, are the sole representatives from the Caraga Region and among the 23 interns accepted for this year’s training. 

The Young Filipino Farm Leaders Training Program in Japan is a partnership program of the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) and the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC). It is a year-long commitment designed to modernize the Philippine agricultural landscape. Every year, DA-ATI sends young Filipino farmers to Japan to undergo 11 months of intensive training alongside Japanese host farmers. The program’s mission is for participants to acquire advanced cultivation techniques and smart farming philosophies, adopting them upon their return to the Philippines. 

Some of the qualifications for the training include having at least two (2) years of accumulated practical or hands-on farming experience (after high school/college graduation) and owning agricultural land, regardless of size and status of ownership, among other technical requirements.

Engr. Cuesta and Concha are currently stationed at the ATI Central Office for a one-month intensive Pre-Departure Orientation Course (PDOC). This preparation phase includes Nihongo language lessons and specialized technical training in anticipation of their departure to Japan in April 2026. 

For the alumni Golden Paddlers, this training serves as a crucial move, as it is hoped to help alleviate the agricultural process and culture in their communities. The YFFLTPJ comes at a critical time for the Philippines. With the average age of Filipino farmers steadily increasing and the number of rural practitioners declining, this program aims to re-energize the sector. 

Photos via Engr. Blessy C. Cuesta