Some 27 Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries were able to complete the several sessions on the Farm Business School
(FBS) training (on Pinakbet vegetables production and marketing) facilitated by
the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office of Cagayan-Batanes (DARPO
Cagayan-Batanes) and the Local Government Unit of Alcala, Cagayan (LGU-Alcala) sometime
in December 2017 at the Eastern Alcala Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in barangay
San Esteban, Alcala, Cagayan.
The Farm Business School aims to equip the participating
farmer beneficiaries with skills and knowledge in adding value to their
commodities to command higher premium. In addition, they are trained how to
market their products to maximize their income.
After a model is selected and participants are gathered, the
FBS proceeded with its three stages: (1) Diagnosis and planning – includes
getting to know the farmers and the farmers getting to know each other,
teaching basic business concepts, market assessment analysis (SWOT – strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, threats); (2) Implementing – Farmers develop a
vision and a goal for their farm business and then work with the trainers to
develop a business plan; continue with business education; and (3) Evaluating
and re-planning – Benefits and performance are assessed, an action plan is
developed and participants prepare for the next season.
The Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) started setting up farm business schools (FBS) in selected communities in
different provinces. It is designed to transform farmer-beneficiaries from
producers of raw farm goods to becoming agri-entrepreneurs.
Agrarian Reform Beneficiries
(ARBs) are also taught overall farm management techniques, from production to
marketing, to increase and ensure the quality of their harvests, raise their income
by learning the proper time and specific crops to be produced to avoid flooding
the market with similar crops resulting to low prices. It is also aligned with
the goal of attaining food security, improving the small farmers’ access to the
market and increasing their income by selling their produce at the proper time.
The FBS is being supported by the
UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The initial success of the
project led to its being replicated in more areas nationwide. /cds
