SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – A young agripreneur from Antique is aiming to expand his spiced nipa vinegar business after winning a ₱300,000 grant from the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) national competition.

Geneco Mabasa, creator of the Nipa Kuriit product, said he plans to use the funding to establish a dedicated manufacturing facility that will support wider, potentially nationwide distribution.

Mabasa shared that nipa vinegar production was once common in the towns of Pandan and Belison, but is now primarily sustained in Bugasong, where the tradition has been preserved and passed down through generations.

A winner under the Startup Food Processing category of the YFC, Mabasa said part of the grant will also go toward acquiring additional equipment to improve production efficiency and ensure compliance with food safety standards.

At present, production is limited as operations are conducted from his home. Despite this, the business has shown strong growth. Since launching last year with monthly gross sales of around ₱15,000, demand has steadily increased, with revenues now reaching approximately ₱116,000 per month.

With the planned expansion, Mabasa hopes to scale up operations, strengthen market presence, and further promote a locally rooted product that reflects Antique’s agricultural heritage.

NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR