To strengthen agricultural development and empower local farmers, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA successfully conducted a training on “Farm Business School for the Rice Cluster with Gender and Development (GAD)” on April 7-11, 2025 at Magsaysay Hillside Resort, Poblacion, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro.
Opening the training, Mr. Jayson N. Erondo, Senior Agriculturist of ATI-MIMAROPA, laid the foundation with an introduction to the Masagana Rice Industry Development Plan. He emphasized the four key strategies outlined in the plan, with particular attention given to the concept of farm clustering and consolidation.
The training also focused on the Enterprise Clustering Approach, which was explained in detail through its three phases and eight steps. Ms. Jobelle A. Jano, Mr. Ace B. Villamar, and Mr. Robert Jayson E. Rica from the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office MIMAROPA, under the F2C2 program, led the discussion on Phases 1 and 3.
Meanwhile, Mr. Erondo guided the participants through Phase 2, which focused on commitment policies and the agro-enterprise plan. As part of the training’s hands-on approach, each participant also drafted their own Cluster Development Plan, including a five-year development outlook.
Beyond agro-enterprise management, the training included a lecture on GAD, led by Ms. Manilyn M. Tejada, Project Evaluation Officer I of ATI-MIMAROPA. The discussion emphasized the importance of recognizing the roles and contributions of women in agriculture, highlighting how gender perspectives can positively influence farm business management.
“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa ATI sa inyong pagtitiyaga na turuan kami. Ito po ang talagang kinakailangan namin. Nakikita natin sa iba't ibang lugar, baha ang produkto. Saan napupunta? Sa kalsada. Kasi kulang sa sistema. Nagtatanim, gaya-gaya na sistema. Saan ngayon isasalin ang produkto? Sino ang bibili? Hanggang sa nauwi sa pagkabulok, pagkasira, at pagkalugi. Ang number 1 na tinatamaan po dito ay tayo. Kaya napakalaking bagay po ito na tinuturo ninyo sa amin kung paano namin maia-assure ang ating mga produkto,” shared Saturnino N. Miguel, a farmer from Cabag Genaro Irrigators Association.
A total of 25 farmers participated in the training.
