The First Asia Pacific Young Farmers’ Camp and Agrilympics, organized by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), Pacific Farmer Organizations (PFO), and the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP), was held from 12 -16 August 2024, at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Laguna.

“Strengthening Young Farmers’ Engagement in Cooperatives and Organizations to Contribute to Safe, Just, and Resilient Food Communities,” aimed to raise awareness about agriculture as a viable career and encourage youth participation in the cooperative sector. 120 young farmers from 20 countries including members from the ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation (ICYC) participated.

The week-long camp kicked off with a vibrant Parade of Nations, celebrating the diversity and unity of young farmers from across the Asia-Pacific region. The lighting of the cauldron, inspired by the Olympic Games, marked the official opening of the camp and set the tone for a week of engaging activities – featured workshops, training sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities to support young farmers in sustainable agriculture.

During the opening ceremony, representatives from the government, international organizations, development partners, and delegates from global and regional farmers’ organizations  delivered their welcome remarks. Atty. Ms. Dulce Bustamante, ICYC Chairperson, highlighted the importance of the International Youth Day which is celebrated to recognize the role of youth in driving sustainable development. This year’s theme, “Youth Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development” emphasized the involvement of technology in agriculture and the cooperative sector. She added that the Agrilympics aims to empower young farmers through digital education, training, and the adoption of innovative tools like AI and Drones, encouraging sustainable farming practices and enhanced agricultural productivity.

Mr. Balu Iyer, ICA-AP Regional Director, shared a video message highlighting the crucial role of youth in creating sustainable and resilient food systems. He highlighted that the Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics serve as a platform to address the challenges faced by young farmers, such as low self-esteem, profitability issues, lack of supportive policies, and insecure land ownership. He stressed the importance of targeted events and mentorship to engage and empower young farmers, drive innovation, and secure the future of food security and resilient rural communities.

The Agrilympics was officially opened with an inspirational message by Mr. Hubert Boirard, Farmers’ Organizations Adviser, which set the tone for the event. The games that followed were designed  on agriculture and sustainability and included “Organized Production,” focusing on efficient farming practices; “Coconut Craz,e” highlighting the importance of value addition; “Marketing Relay,” teaching strategic selling techniques; “Climate Change Hurdle,” highlighting the challenges posed by environmental changes; and “Advocacy Puzzle,” encouraging participants to think critically about agricultural policy and representation.

Day two centred on plenary sessions and World Café break-out discussions. Plenary Session 1 moderated by Ms. Melaia, FPO, focused on the situation of youth in the agriculture sector across the Asia-Pacific region, with key speakers including Ms. Merewalesi Rokosawa, Program Officer at the Pacific Farmers Organisation; Dr. M.D. Harunur Rashid from the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC); and Ms. Esther Penunia, Secretary General of the AFA. Their insights provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities facing by young farmers in the region, setting the stage for discussions and collaborative solutions.

Plenary Session 2, moderated by Mr. Shree Padmanabhan from ICA-AP, delved into enabling policies and good practices for engaging young farmers. This session featured speakers who shared valuable insights on policies and best practices. Director Mr. Remelyn Recoter from the Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Training Institute, discussed policies supporting young farmer engagement; Director Mr. Roy Ribo from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), presented programs for young coconut farmers; and Mr. Hiro Iio shared the Rinnesha experience. Additionally, Ms. Justine Limocon of LAMAC Multi-purpose Cooperative and Ms. Losalini Qiolevu from the PFO highlighted best practices for engaging young farmers in their respective regions. The session underscored the importance of supportive policies and shared strategies that can inspire young farmers to actively participate in the agriculture sector.

An engaging World Café Break-out session was organized for the participants. There were three topics namely, Cooperatives as a viable model, Institutionalizing young farmers’ engagement and Agroecology as a pathway to sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, assigned for each breakout session. Ms. Sita Hindowar, ICYC member from India, representing the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative  (IFFCO) gave a comprehensive presentation on Cooperatives as a viable model. Sita’s video presentation highlighted IFFCO’s initiatives towards technology and innovation in the agriculture sector from the region.

During the closing ceremony, it was announced that the next edition of Young Farmers Camp and Agrilympics will be held on the Pacific Island in 2026.