BUTUAN CITY, February 26, 2021 – “A good leader has good personality traits and management skills,” emphasized Department of Agriculture (DA) Supervising Agriculturist Isabelita L. Ocampo to 22 farmers from 11 groups of the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program.

The beneficiaries from Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur participated in a one-day farmers’ training designed to improve their leadership and entrepreneurial management skills.

Complementary to the training on financial management and entrepreneurship held in December 2020, the organizational leadership lecture-workshop tackled good leadership skills as a key to sustaining an association and keeping its members active and cohesive.

Conducted via video conference, Ms. Ocampo and Senior Agriculturist Rey U. Frias of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) served as resource speakers of the lecture-workshop attended by the president and one member from each farmers’ association (FA).

Ms. Ocampo said that a good personality is inherent to a person, while management skills can be learned and improved through training and real-life application.

Moreover, Mr. Frias elaborated that leaders need to establish a common ground and layout attainable goals that will inspire all members to action.

The participating groups from Agusan del Sur included the Cecelia Abaca and Corn Planters from San Luis; and the Masabong Sinayugan FA, Buenaswerte Cosep FA, and Cosep Peoples Organization from Rosario.

Manwhile, the associations from Surigao del Sur are the Riverside Panaosawon FA, and P-7 Panaosawon FA from Bayabas; Napanpan United FA, North Mecaope FA, and Lumad sa Bogac FA from Lingig; and Goat Raisers’ Association of Mabog, and Goat Raisers Association of Sitio Sanyata from Bislig City.

Leadership skills are elaborate but necessary for start-up associations. With this, DA-SAAD Caraga has allotted Php 1,633,000 budget for training in 2021 to promote the farmers’ growth and proactive expansion of their association and livelihood towards agri-entreprise. ###

Writer:                 Mark Angelo Pineda, Information Officer- DA-SAAD Caraga