BAGUIO CITY, April 3, 2024 – Efficiency and consistency are key factors in the success of any enterprise. Recognizing this, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) recently organized a training session for its personnel on March 4-5, 2024. 

Led by Senior Agriculturist Josie Beray of the DA-CAR Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, the training aimed to equip SAAD officers with the skills and knowledge needed to develop enterprise operations manuals for farmers’ groups in the region.

The session received active involvement from 16 SAAD Community Development Officers (CDO), three (3) Associate Project Officers, one (1) Information Officer, two (2) data controllers, and two (2) Administrative Assistants.

Beray emphasized the importance of the said manual, stating, “The manual serves as a guidebook for the proposed enterprise operation to be followed by all in each operating unit. It sets the guidelines for how things are done in each enterprise.”

She further explained that the manual helps the farmers’ group to outline the procedures and operations of their enterprise to ensure correct execution. It also sets the rules and regulations for consistency in the farmers’ groups, aiding their enterprise in reaching its full growth potential and success. 

“The operations manual is essential in setting a standard for the business, facilitating better training for farmers, enabling the enterprise to scale up more efficiently, and increasing the overall value of the business,” added Beray. 

Each part of the proposed manual was presented to the SAAD officers as well as its significance and functions for enterprise development and operations. Contents of the manual include the following: Introduction, Project Background, General Information, Production or Operations Component, Organization and Administration, Financial Component, Monitoring and Evaluation Component, and Sustainability Component.

For SAAD CAR, there will be 82 operations manuals to be crafted by the CDOs, working closely with the FCA and FAs in the region, with target completion by the second quarter of this year for initial review. ###

Writer: Maria Elena G. Catajan

Sources: Ms. Josie Beray, Senior Agriculturist, DA-CAR Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD)