TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE - From September 15 to 19, the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 brought together regional and provincial program implementers to address one of the region’s most pressing needs: a reliable market for locally produced agricultural goods.
As the Philippines continues to battle the impacts of climate change, economic inequality, and rural poverty, innovative solutions are needed more than ever to support local farmer-beneficiaries.
For this year, the Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) Sub-unit aimed to do just that—empowering the very people responsible for implementing agricultural programs to better connect farmers with sustainable markets towards the development of community-based enterprises (CBEs).
More Than Just Farming: A Focus on Entrepreneurship
For most people, farming is still seen as the age-old act of sowing seeds and harvesting crops. But to the 50 participants of the training, farming is quickly evolving into an enterprise. It is not enough to grow crops anymore; the products must be marketable, competitive, and profitable.
“This training is not just about increasing productivity. We need to inspire our farmers to think like entrepreneurs,” said Larry U. Sultan, Regional Technical Director for Operations.
The five-day training was packed with sessions on entrepreneurship, human resource management, accounting and finance, and marketing. The goal was to transform local implementers into the bridge between the agricultural producers and the markets they aim to serve.
From Fields to Markets: The Road to Enterprise
The sessions provided participants with valuable insights into entrepreneurial mindset and the critical importance of understanding marketing diagnostics.
Bethzaida Genesis Girang-Molon, MAED Sub-Unit lead, presented a clear picture on how effective marketing can make the difference between success and failure.
“You cannot simply produce; you must know how to market your products, how to make them stand out, and how to build a brand that resonates with consumers,” Girang-Molon explained.
The training also explored the power of digital tools in marketing agricultural goods. As e-commerce continues to grow, so does the need for farmers and implementers to understand how to leverage online platforms to reach wider audiences.
Strengthening the Collaborative Network
The activity fostered a sense of community among the provincial and regional implementers. With diverse backgrounds and experiences, these implementers took part in group activities designed to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Participants were also tasked with developing marketing plans for agricultural products from their assigned areas, combining the training concepts with real-life scenarios. This hands-on approach not only reinforced the lessons learned but also allowed participants to create practical, actionable plans that could be implemented once they return to their respective provinces.
Ms Jocelyn A. Cabañas, Provincial Coordinator for Southern Leyte, expressed, “This is not just training. It is an empowerment journey, fostering collaboration and innovation to build resilient, thriving agricultural enterprises in SAAD covered areas.”
For the SAAD implementers in Eastern Visayas, achieving economic stability has been a challenging and prolonged journey. However, programs like this training offer a glimmer of hope—demonstrating that through education, creativity, and teamwork, the agricultural sector can thrive and adapt.
“This training is conducted to equip the SAAD implementers with requisite skills and knowledge to guide and support farmers in establishing successful and sustainable enterprises,” Miss Bethzaida shared.
As the five-day event concluded, the participants left with new skills, deeper knowledge, and determination to support the farmers in Eastern Visayas. ###
Writer: Jessica R. Alvero, Information Officer II