A training on agribusiness management, value chain analysis, and leadership was conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
It was held on September 24-27, 2019 at the Estancia Resort Hotel in Tagaytay City. The training was conducted a collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The four-day training aimed to instill value chain thinking and enhance leadership skills among PCAARRD’s Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) managers and technical staff. This would help them in influencing the trajectories of the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources (AANR) sector through effective engagement and in facilitating on-the-ground impact.
Among the resource persons and mentors during the training were Dr. Lily Lim-Camacho and Ms. Michaela Cosjin of CSIRO; Dr. Rodd Dyer of FocusGroupGo; and Mr. Anton Simon of Foodlink Advocacy Co-operative.
Participants were given simulation exercises on partnership brokering, prioritizing and assessing value chain and interventions, and mapping value chains.
Dr. Dindo Campilan of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Ms. Maricel Patch Quilao of Honda Cars Philippines, and Mr. Leopold Joseph Janer of the Professional Insurance and Financial Advisors Association of the Philippines (PIFAAP) shared their personal experiences on leadership, influence, and impact on a panel talk during the training.
Engaging in actual value chains, the participants were grouped and assigned different industries to visit and implement a rapid value chain appraisal.
The industries and respective chain assignments given to the participants were the following:
1. ANSA Genetics, Inc. in Batangas and Rancho Consuelo in Laguna for beef cattle chain;
2. Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC), Batangas for corn chain; and
3. Ahon Sa Hirap, Inc. (ASHI), Laguna for spring onion chain.
Participants were able to present their outputs and share their reflections during the last day of the training.
Dr. Melvin Carlos, DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management, and Support Services (OED-ARMSS), emphasized the Council’s support on the ongoing collaboration. The knowledge acquired by the ISP managers and staff, he added, would be vital in improving the ISPs.
Attended by 25 ISP managers and technical staff from DOST-PCAARRD, the training was conducted through coordination and assistance of the Socio-Economics Research Division (SERD) and the Institution Development Division (IDD) of the Council.
Another collaborative project titled “The Agribusiness Master Class (AMC),” is being conducted. It includes a series of training classes scheduled in November 2019 in Davao, February 2020 in Bulacan, and April 2020 in Cebu.
Led by ACIAR and CSIRO in partnership with DOST-PCAARRD, the project aims to develop researchers’ knowledge on principles and practical analytical skills needed to influence the development of agribusiness value chains in the Philippines.
