With the aim of promoting sustainable agricultural development and economic growth, a 3-day Training on Social Preparation for Rice Clusters: Capability Enhancement for Farner Leaders was held at Lola’s Healthy Farm, Brgy. Poblacion, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro on April 2-4, 2024. It was was attended by 25 participants, consisting of farmers from various cooperatives and associations in the province.
Participants appreciated the lectures given by the different resource speakers. From the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA, Agriculturist II Mr. Jay-Ar B. Madriaga discussed the Farmer Clusters For Supply Consolidation.
Also, from the Department of Agriculture Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program (DA F2C2), Mr. Jhon Lester Evangelio, Ray Neptune Quindong, and Mr. Robert Jayson E. Rica covered the topics such as Understanding the Market and Identifying Market Oppurtunities, Ensuring Supply for the Market, Agro-Enterprise Objective, Agro-Enterprise Partnership Building, Functional Working Group, Leadership of Farmer Clusters, and Agro-Enterprise Facilitator as Agent of Change.
One of the highlights of the training was the hands-on activity where participants collaborated to develop Cluster Development Plans. Working in groups based on their respective cooperatives and associations, they carefully crafted plans according to their needs and priority. Facilitators and resource speakers provided guidance and support throughout the process, ensuring that each plan was comprehensive and attainable.
Mr. Rudy T. Hilario, one of the participants, expressed his gratitude and commitment to sharing the new knowledge he gained with his fellow farmers.
“Ang mga natutunan ko po ay akin pong ibabahagi sa aking mga kasamahan sa kooperatiba. Bilang isang magsasaka na nag nanais mapalaki ang kita, ito ay isang malaking tulong po upang maisabuhay namin at magamit sa aming pagsasaka. Ang mga konsepto at estratehiya ay magagamit ko sa papalaki ng kita sa pagsasaka. Tayo po ay naging instrumento para maipaabot ito sa iba pang magsasaka kaya ibahagi po natin”, he shared.
The said training was spearheaded by the Agricultural Training Institute in MIMAROPA through its Partnership and Accreditation Section.
