BAYBAY CITY, Leyte - The Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center VIII (ATI RTC 8) successfully conducted the second batch of the Training of Trainers on Farm Business School for Rice-based Enterprises from August 19 to August 28, 2024, at Hall C, VSU Campus, Visca, Baybay City, Leyte. The intensive 10-day training was attended by 28 rice farmers from the provinces of Samar and Leyte, who are now better equipped to manage and grow their farm businesses.
Throughout the training, participants were introduced to a comprehensive range of topics crucial for farm business success. They became well-versed in maintaining accurate and organized farm records, a vital skill for determining the profitability of their enterprises. The farmers were taught to distinguish between variable and fixed costs, allowing them to better assess their financial standings.
One of the significant highlights was the emphasis on farm diversification. Through benchmarking activities, participants observed how small farm areas could be maximized for productivity. They explored various enterprises that could be integrated with rice cultivation to optimize land use and enhance income. This approach not only increases profitability but also spreads financial risk across multiple ventures.
Additionally, the importance of crafting a simple yet effective business plan was underscored. The participants learned about the components of a business plan and had the opportunity to develop their own. This exercise enabled them to consider all costs and income streams associated with specific enterprises, fostering a deeper understanding of how to evaluate profitability.
As a concrete outcome of the training, many participants included in their re-entry plans the presentation of their crafted business plans to the members of their respective Irrigators' Associations (IAs). This initiative aims to provide valuable insights into the profitability of existing association businesses. Others plan to conduct re-echo activities to share the knowledge gained with their fellow association members.
The training received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participants. Ms. Gina Atillo, a member of the Nagbac Irrigators Association in Paranas, Samar, expressed her gratitude to ATI, saying, "I am very thankful to ATI for giving us the opportunity to learn about record keeping, farm business planning, and the importance of benchmarking activity. This training gives me hope for clear success in the future. I promise to apply the learning and impart these to the members of my association, my family, and to anybody who is interested in learning financial management in the farm business."
Mr. Godofredo R. Pido, Jr., a member of the Guindag-an, San Antonio, Cabalasan Daku Irrigators Association (GSCIA) in Palo, Leyte, also shared his positive experience, stating, "I am very grateful for this 10-day training. I can say that this training is a complete package because we were taught about farm business planning, budgeting, recordkeeping, and strategies, including where to source capital. This is a great help that I can apply personally, to my family, and to our association as well. I have no regrets attending this training. I am very thankful to ATI and to the Resource Persons who shared their ideas. Now, the challenge is on us to ensure that the knowledge imparted to us is not wasted and that we apply it and become trainers to our fellow association members."
The Training of Trainers on Farm Business School for Rice-based Enterprises provided valuable knowledge and skills to the participants, empowering them to improve their farm businesses and share what they have learned with others in their communities. The success of this training underscores the importance of continuous education and capacity-building for farmers to ensure the sustainability and profitability of their agricultural enterprises.
