The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III (DA-RFO III) has broken ground for an Agribusiness Incubation (ABI) Center at the DA-Research Outreach Station for Lahar-Laden Areas Development in Barangay Rabanes here.

Held on October 1, the groundbreaking marked a major component of the “Development of a Community-Based Agribusiness to Improve the Livelihood and Income of Marginal Farmers in Central Luzon” project, supported by a US$6-million grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented with DA-RFO III from 2025 to 2029.

The ABI Center will serve as an incubator for marginal farmers and farmer organizations, offering shared office and processing facilities, mentorship, capacity-building programs, and linkages to financing, markets and business opportunities.

The initiative seeks to help farmers move beyond production toward sustainable and market-oriented agribusinesses while strengthening productivity, competitiveness and community-based income opportunities.

Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing and Consumer Affairs Atty. Genevieve E. Velicaria-Guevarra said the center would provide farmers and emerging agripreneurs with an enabling environment to develop business ideas and build sustainable enterprises.

KOICA Country Director Jung Youngsun said the partnership aims to empower Filipino farmers, increase incomes and contribute to a more productive and competitive agricultural sector.

KOICA officials led by Jung, along with DA-RFO III Regional Executive Director Dr. Eduardo L. Lapuz Jr., Regional Technical Director Elma S. Mananes, Project Leader Josephine J. Muñoz and DA-RSLL Station Chief Engr. Matthew Mark C. Capillo, Ph.D., attended the ceremony.