Vanissa Mae C. Ebron during the presentation of output on the Business Plan.
BANGA, Aklan- “For us Agricultural Extension Workers, this training workshop is very useful to us kay kita naga-support farmer, cooperatives, and associations sa ila operation. So, better gid nga may ara kita idea regarding sa plan on how to prepare before producing and introducing the products to the market. We hoped that more AEWs pa ang maka-acquire sang amo ni nga training,” shared by Dia Mae N. Corneja, one of the participants during her impression in the closing program of the Training Workshop on Business Plan Preparation on October 17-21, 2022, at ATI Training Hall.
Twenty-nine Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) of Western Visayas attended the said training. Most of them came from selected municipalities under Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2). They are now equipped with the knowledge and skills they needed in the implementation of their projects and are willing to share that knowledge with their cooperatives and associations being handled.
The activity aims to enhance and strengthen the knowledge and skills of the Agricultural Extension Workers (AEW) on business plan preparation that will enable them to train the farmer-members of the association in their area to become successful agripreneurs. This is under the “OneDA Reform Agenda” by the Department of Agriculture (DA) as an approach to increasing the productivity and profitability of farming and fishery activities.
“Why we were able to conceptualize this training? Required ngayon sa Department of Agriculture na kung magbibigay ng projects ay legitimate na mga associations. Hindi sila nagbibigay sa mga individual recipients, usually mga organized farmers or cooperatives. At kayo ang nag-aasist sa kanila sa mga requirements nila, sa paggawa ng mga proposal at plans para ma strengthen ang cooperative or association nila. So dapat kayo mismo ay equipped with the knowledge and skills. Isa sa mga i-capacitate sa inyo ay how to make project proposals and business plan,” said Mary Ann A. Ramos, ATI Region 6’s Officer-in-Charge in her message during the Opening Program.
Reden Mark F. Costales, the owner of Costales Nature Farms, served as the sole resource person of the activity and discussed the topics namely: The Agricultural Industry Landscape; Production Management; Financial Management; Marketing Management; Human Resource and Operations Management; Record Keeping; Business Plan Development; and Writing of Farm Business Plan. A Series of workshops were also done on every topic discussed. Two days were allotted for Business Plan Preparation and Presentation. Mr. Costales also served on the panel. Each of the participants was required to prepare such.
The three best business plans were selected, and they were assisted in the finalization of comments and suggestions by the panel. They are as follows: Dia Mae N. Corneja of DA-RFO VI with a business plan entitled “Production of Insulin Plant Juice”, Lykeen L. Salmoro of LGU-Dingle Iloilo with “Alegria Bamboo Crafts”, and Roline D. Tamayo from LGU-Zarraga, Iloilo with “TUPALIFIA as a Farm Service Provider.” They were also required to prepare a Project Proposal which may be funded later if budget allocation permits.
