A pro-farmer lawmaker has filed a House bill (HB) that seeks to sway more students to take agriculture, forestry, and fisheries degree programs so they may--with the government’s backing--become “agripreneurs” scholars.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee penned and filed HB No. 2419 or the “Agripreneurs Scholarship Program Act”.

Under the measure, an Integrated Agripreneurs Scholarship Program (IASP) will be established in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and in partner private higher education institutions.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may designate more than one partner higher education institutions per region, as deemed necessary, upon consultation with the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Lee proposed a total of P1 billion in annual support to qualified scholars and other educational resource support mechanisms for the pursuit of studies in the field of agriculture. Thereafter, the fund necessary for its implementation shall be included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget.

“Aside from investments to agriculture infrastructure and equipment, we must give equal importance to integrated efforts in investing on education and trainings among the youth so they acquire the latest agricultural principles and techniques. Gusto nating hikayatin ang mas maraming mag-aaral na pasukin at magkaroon ng interes sa agrikultura (We want to encourage more students to have an interest in agriculture)," Lee said.

The IASP will also have a student financial assistance component, which shall cover the following:

- Tuition and other school fees;
- Allowance for prescribed books, supplies and equipment;
- Clothing or uniform allowance;
- Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation, or transportation allowance, whichever is more applicable;
- Internship fees, including financial assistance during the required internship period;
- Licensure exam fees, if applicable, of the scholar concerned taken within one (1) year after graduation, and
- Subsistence or living allowance.

The DA, in coordination with the relevant government agencies and financial institutions, shall prepare and consolidate cash grant programs that can be availed by agripreneur scholars who wish to venture and establish their agribusinesses.

Another component of this scholarship program is a mandatory return service program to help improve the agricultural system of the country.

Within one year after graduation or passing the licensure examinations, whichever is applicable, the agripreneur scholar shall serve in public agricultural institutions or agricultural institutions or companies accredited by the DA.