B. Key VC Players and Functions 

1. From the inception meeting/ workshop with the Core Planning Team, key players per segment of the chain should have been identified.

2. Identify and analyze the roles and functions of each player and the extent of their participation in the chain.

VC TEMPLATE 3:. Functions per Value Chain Participant can be used as a guide in establishing and assessing roles and linkages among the value chain participants.

3. Classify key players as small, medium, or large players and define these categories.

4. Analyze and discuss demographic profile (age, gender, education, location, income level, etc.). A of key players as these factors affect the chain. For example, aging farmers has been one of the major concerns in the field of agriculture as this affects the acceptability of new technologies.

5. Though the same players have the same functions and perform the same general activities, different practices are being done based on their category, scope, and traditional way of operation. Discuss in detail the practices done by the key players in the province or region. Discuss differences in practices in terms of level of operations, adoption of technologies, and notable variations from one location to another.

6. Further analyze the reasons for the differences in practices.

7. From the analysis, we can do some benchmarking to see better ways of doing things. Benchmarking may be done either:

1.) With agri-fishery groups/associations of the same commodity from different areas, or

2.) With agri-fishery groups/associations of different commodities but with the same business model located within the same area or from different areas.

The model groups may include cooperatives with the same nature of business as the industry players of the VC, individual players, or government-operated associations. Model groups can be those that are GAP-certified farms in the same area or model farmers outside the province/ region/ cluster producing the same product. Practices of key players in the area will be assessed with the model group as a reference of the best practices to determine the gaps and opportunities to enhance the value chain.

a. Conduct a comparative analysis. You may use the sample table below as a reference.

Table _. Comparison of Post-harvest Processing of Cassava Tubers

b. Provide a narrative discussion on the comparisons presented. The discussions shall include but are not limited to best practices of the model group, its operations and sustainability mechanisms, etc.

8. Discuss also the operation of the facility, institutional arrangements with other VC players (e.g. farmer groups/associations), maintenance protocol, sustainability mechanisms, etc.

9. Scan the industry and assess the existing common service facilities and potential areas of expansion or areas for agro- agro-industrialization,

! These facilities may include the pasalubong centers, trading posts, Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (APTC), Barangay Food Terminals (BFTs), Warehouses, Ice Cold Storage, etc.

10. Assess identified facilities and determine which is upscalable or replicable. The sample template below may be used in presenting the existing common service facilities:

VC TEMPLATE 4: Existing and Potential Agro-Industry Investments