A training on Agribusiness Management was conducted for producer organizations, extension workers, and agribusiness development partners last December 9-10, 2022.
Branded as “Diskartepreneur,” the training was launched by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources, Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) together with the Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship of the University of the Philippines Los Baños’ College of Economics and Management (UPLB-DAME).
The training aimed to develop the capacities of the participants in entrepreneurial management, business plan development, and marketing and pricing analysis. Technical, managerial, organizational, marketing skills, and ability to integrate value chains and networks of the participants were enhanced during the training.
Faculties from UPLB-DAME including Assistant Professor (aProf) Renen Szilardo De Guzman, aProf. Gian Carlo De Jesus, aProf. Rei Chino Pua, and aProf. Cris Edwin Bonalos served as resource persons during the training sessions.
Participants during the lecture sessions (Image credit: Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD), DOST-PCAARRD)
The training had a total of 27 participants from Regions 3, 4A, 4B, NCR, and 12. As part of DOST-PCAARRD’s Agri-Aqua Business Hub (AABH) enterprise development initiatives, the participants were a mix of key officials of producer organizations, extension workers from Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs), and agribusiness development partners.
Held at DOST-PCAARRD, the training sessions were a mix of lecture discussions and gamified activities. The gamified approach recreated real-life scenarios to train participants with practical applications of the knowledge and skills they gained from the training. Participants were tasked to develop and sell products to exhibit their ‘diskarte’ in product development and marketing. The products were later sold at the UPLB Christmas Bazaar.
Utilizing the products from their respective cooperatives, participants were able to develop four products: ‘Prito Bumbong,’ or deep-fried puto bumbong with sauce; ‘Calamonsito,’ Calamansi juice with nata jelly; Hot Coco Choco or hot chocolate with coconut milk; and ‘Sumang Hubad,’ or rice cake with cacao nibs and coconut shavings.
At the end of the bazaar, the groups earned income through sales and active promotion of their products to the bazaar goers. Furthermore, the participants were able to build connections with customers and tap into potential markets.
Participants shared positive feedback and highlighted how they were tested to break out of their comfort zones, improve their ‘diskarte’ and build their confidence in running an enterprise.
The activities conducted through the training’s gamified approach allowed participants to experience the various ups and downs in business, which helped build their resilience and readiness to future challenges.
The training series was developed by the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) of DOST-PCAARRD as part of the AABH’s capacity-building services. It will be institutionalized as one of the regular course offerings under the AABH.