The Department of Agriculture’s (DA’s) Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program conducted an intensive Entrepreneurial Development Training last December 2025 to help its farmer-beneficiaries in Lanao del Norte shift from being mere producers to becoming proactive agripreneurs.
The training, conducted last December 2, 3 and 5, 2025 near the production areas, gave them the practical skills and knowledge they needed to turn their farming activities into sustainable, community-based enterprises. Sessions focused on cash flow management, cost control, and appropriate pricing strategies, encouraging farmers to change their perspective and see farming as a business.
Participants included members of the Small Banisilon SAAD Farmers’ Association (SBSFA) from Tangcal town, Kadoldolan Farmers’ Association (KFA) from Linamon town, and Sustainable Agri-Integrated Farmers’ Association (SAIFA) from Matungao town.
Through the training, farmers learned how to budget, plan, innovate, and make well-informed decisions that can improve revenue and output. They were also guided on practical approaches on how to manage their farms more efficiently and profitably.
It also introduced them to new technologies, current market trends, and additional income opportunities such as diversification and value-adding.
“We want our farmers not just to produce crops but to think like entrepreneurs,” said Reynan A. Solamillo, the Associate Project Officer-I of the SAAD Program and resource speaker for the said training.
“This training is designed to help them identify market opportunities, manage their resources efficiently, and eventually establish community-based enterprises that can generate steady income for their families and communities,” he added.
He also emphasized that entrepreneurial skills are essential to the long-term sustainability of the SAAD-supported FAs.
“When farmers become entrepreneurs, they not only improve their livelihoods but also contribute significantly to local economic growth,” said Solamillo.
Through initiatives like this, the SAAD Program continues to support the transformation of the agriculture industry in Lanao del Norte into a more resilient, community-driven, and business-oriented sector. ###
