BICOL, March 01, 2024 – From producing food on the table, the beneficiaries under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program now transition into establishing community-based enterprises (CBEs) as the National Program Management Office (NPMO) introduced the guidelines for the program’s Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) component to the Bicol regional and provincial implementers last February 5-8, 2024.

To properly cascade the guidelines, Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) Cluster Head Kit Jasper Gopela, MAED Sub-unit staff Christine Joyce Velez, and IT and Database Development (IDD) staff Paul John Onrubia met with the Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) and Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) staff in Castilla, Sorsogon.

The MAED component focuses on the development of CBEs through the provision of market-related activities relative to the provided livelihood projects of the program. These activities help farmer-partners have an in-depth understanding of the program’s enterprise development packages and transform them into profitable ventures, thereby capacitating them with entrepreneurial expertise and enhancing their economic sustainability.

The NPMO team discussed the MAED’s methodology, emphasizing the need for effective data collection tools essential for marketing farmers’ products. The data requirements for market mapping and the accomplishment of MAED templates and forms were highlighted during the discussion.

Following the discussion, a market-mapping simulation was conducted to provide implementers with a hands-on approach on the MAED component, with participants divided into four groups to conduct field validation activities in various market sites in Castilla and Sorsogon City.

A Focused Group Discussion (FGD) was also conducted at the San Isidro Vegetable Farmers’ Association (SIVFA) center to tackle the current status of the association, their production and marketing strategies. The FGD was attended by the members of the association. 

SIVFA is an association organized by the SAAD program back in FY 2023. They were recipients of the High Value Crops Production Package. Despite being new to the program, they have actively participated in several marketing activities like the SM Sunday Market in Sorsogon City since last year.

Through the conduct of field validation and FGD, the implementers were able to determine feasible locations to market the products of the beneficiaries in Sorsogon. This involved scrutinizing market areas, market access, information, and landmarks. Meanwhile, market data processing and report generation were given focus during the activity. An open forum also took place to clarify issues and concerns encountered during the workshop. 

Furthermore, the SAAD Bicol implementers and the NPMO team conducted a courtesy call to the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Castilla. Being one of the target areas for the program’s Phase 2, the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and the Mayor’s Office committed to a strengthened partnership with the SAAD Program to effectively implement the program’s goals in the locality. 

Following the rollout of the MAED guidelines, the RPMSO and PPMSO staff will proceed to conduct monitoring activities and cascading activities for its Phase 2 beneficiaries to gradually, but efficiently, transform them into productive entrepreneurs. ###

Writer: Juan Paulo A. Quizana, SAAD Bicol Associate Project Officer I