The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Central Visayas held two-day training sessions for 38 farmer groups in Bohol and Cebu from April 15 to May 9, 2025.
The training covered important topics about how to build and run groups well. This included matters on leadership, working as a team, how to hold meetings, and simple rules for group talks. It also taught farm management skills like planning, keeping farm records, and making a budget. The goal was to help the farmer groups become stronger and more organized.
Prior to conducting the training, the SAAD Central Visayas team took part in a two-day Training of Trainers (TOT) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol last April 10–11, 2025, led by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Central Visayas Engr. Rizaldy Mercadal, PhD., Agriculturist II. The TOT prepared the SAAD staff to learn farm management topics as they cascade it to the farmers.
Efren S. Bacsan, President of the Cambacan Integrated Farmers Association (CIFA), a group of vegetable growers and marketing beneficiaries from Brgy. Bahaybahay, Sikatuna, Bohol, thanked the program for the training and shared the important lessons he learned.
He said, “Daghan kaayo kog nakat-unan sa training, labi na sa bahin sa record keeping. Sauna, kada magtrabaho ko sa uma, ang akong irekord kay ang kita ra. Abi nako mao ra to ang importante. Pero karon, nakasabot ko nga kinahanglan diay irekord ang tanang kalihokan sa uma – bisan pa ang pagsusi sa tanom, pagpanglimpyo, pagpanguha ug sagbot, o pagpangita ug mga peste – kay kabahin kini sa tanang paningkamot sa pag-uma.”
(I learned a lot from the training, especially about record keeping. Before, whenever I worked on the farm, the only thing I recorded was the income. I thought that was the only important thing. But now, I understand that it is necessary to record all the activities on the farm – even checking the plants, cleaning, weeding, or looking for pests – because these are all part of the farming work.)
“Naablihan akong huna-huna sa kahinungdanon sa pagrekord sa tanan aron masabtan kung kanus-a misaka o mibarato ang presyo sa tanom, ug aron masubay kung naa bay mga problema sa uma. Mao gyud ni ang labing bililhon nga leksyon nga akong nakuha – ang pag-ila sa tinuod nga importansya sa farm record keeping. Daghang salamat sa SAAD Program, dili lang sa mga intervention nga among nadawat, apan labi na sa kahibalo nga inyong gipaambit nga dako kaayong tabang sa among asosasyon,” shared Efren.
(My mind was opened to the importance of recording everything so we can understand when the price of our crops goes up or down, and to track if there are any problems on the farm. This is the most valuable lesson I learned – the true importance of farm record keeping. I am very thankful to the SAAD Program, not only for the help we received but especially for the knowledge you shared, which is a big help to our association.)
Upcoming editions of the training for the last 10 farmer groups in Negros Oriental and Siquijor are scheduled in July this year.
With this training, SAAD eyes to help more farmer groups become strong and well-managed. This will help them keep and grow their farming businesses.
