ORMOC CITY — Highlighting the vital role of youth innovation in modernizing Philippine agriculture, Ormoc City native James T. Tan emerged as a national awardee in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Season 5.
Representing Eastern Visayas, Tan won in the Startup Category (Production) during the national competition held in Iloilo City, earning financial grants to expand his commercial agricultural venture, Purple Roots.
Empowering Youth Entrepreneurship Through YFC
The Young Farmers Challenge is a flagship initiative of the Department of Agriculture designed to encourage young Filipinos to pursue agri-fishery enterprises. The competitive program provides financial grants, capacity-building workshops, and business mentoring to turn innovative farming concepts into viable agri-businesses.
Through his enterprise Purple Roots, Tan successfully established a certified organic farm in Ormoc City dedicated to high-grade purple yam (ube) cultivation. The national grant will fund the expansion of his production areas, post-harvest infrastructure, and processing capabilities.
Meeting Global Demand With Certified Organic Ube
With international and domestic demand for purple yam steadily increasing across the food, beverage, and confectionery industries, Purple Roots aims to establish a reliable supply of premium ube from Leyte.
Tan utilizes strictly natural and organic farming techniques to enhance soil fertility, maintain environmental sustainability, and ensure vivid natural pigmentation and rich flavor profiles in his harvests.
The DA Regional Field Office VIII (DA-RFO 8) commended Tan's national recognition, citing Purple Roots as a model for sustainable root crop farming and agribusiness innovation across the Visayas region.
