MIMAROPA Region, October 2, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA – SAAD) MIMAROPA, in partnership with Romblon State University (RSU) and the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) MIMAROPA, trained 895 farmers across the region through a series of Marketing Assistance and Enterprise Development (MAED) workshops.

The MAED training equipped farmer beneficiaries with essential knowledge and skills to transform their agricultural organizations into sustainable community-based enterprises (CBEs). 

Experts from RSU and F2C2 MIMAROPA trained 38 associations in Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan. Thirty-six of these associations managed livelihood projects related to livestock, poultry, and crops, while the remaining two focused on processing activities.

The participants learned essential business concepts, including entrepreneurial mindsetting. RSU professors led discussions on the opportunities and challenges of running a business, the key qualities and skills needed for successful entrepreneurship, and business fundamentals such as costing, basic accounting practices, business record-keeping, and financial statement analysis.

In addition, speakers from F2C2 MIMAROPA focused on effective product packaging and labeling, as well as the Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach (AECA), which promoted collaborative efforts in agriculture.

Meanwhile, six (6) additional associations were scheduled to undergo similar training in October, benefiting 150 farmers from the municipalities of Alcantara, Ferrol, and Sta. Maria in Romblon. ###

Writer: Melissa F. Lingco, DA-SAAD Information Officer II

Source: Engr. Krystal Mae G. Lubos, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Association Project Officer II