LOS ANGELES, Butuan City – A total of 31 individuals composed of farmer-leaders, Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), and Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga Region personnel participated the five-day Training Workshop on Business Plan Preparation with Digital Farmers Program (DFP) on October 24-28, 2022 at the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center (ATI-RTC) XIII Golden Tara Hall.

The training aims to capacitate the participants in the formulation of business plan and at the same time equip them with knowledge and skills on how to use basic digital tools including the social media, climate and weather monitoring applications, and online payment options.

Partakers were able to hear lectures and had workshops from the speakers. Olegario B. Ayensa Jr., Manager of Countryfields Agri located in Tungao, Butuan City, discussed the best practices for free range chicken and livestock diversification. Mr. Ayensa is also a certified Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) cooperator.

Other resource persons were from ATI-RTC XIII Information Services Section. They were Ginalyn Arbutante and John Paul Abonitalla who explained the topics of DFP.

Participants also prepared their business plans which they were assisted by the personnel from the Land Bank of the Philippines.

“It is very timely and useful for our stakeholders and implementing agencies. We learned the complexity of making the business proposal, one should consider the marketing and technical side of the proposed activity or program,” said Ivy Kristine A. Wamar from the DA-Caraga Region Office.