In a bid to continue mainstreaming its good practices, processes, and innovations in implementing enterprise interventions into the Department of Agriculture’s attached offices, the DA – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) held a training on business planning for the Field Operations Division (FOD) of the DA – Central Luzon office from March 5-8, 2024 in Baguio City.

The four-day activity, facilitated by the Project Support Office North Luzon – I-REAP Component, aimed to equip the key personnel of the FOD with the basic knowledge and skills set in conceptualizing, designing, and preparing sound business plan proposals, including reviewing and appraising to ensure the implementation of sustainable agricultural enterprises.

The participants were personnel from the lead banner programs (Rice, Corn, High Value Crops Development, Organic Agriculture, and Livestock) and special projects under FOD, these include Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD), Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO), Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA), and Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K), and Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program.

The topics presented outline the important parts of a business plan used by PRDP’s enterprise component, such as market analysis, operational plan, financial plan, economic impact, and sustainability mechanism.

A workshop was conducted for each topic to help participants build on and/or develop their business ideas into a simple business plan.

To facilitate the exchange of ideas and practice business plan review and appraisal, the participants critiqued the business plan output of each presenting group.

In her message, Deputy Project Director Elma Mananes expressed hope that the training would help the participants gain skills in creating business plan proposals that are geared towards helping farmers and attaining the goal of farmer clustering and consolidation.

She also said the training is a part of the objective to mainstream or adopt the good practices of PRDP to implement the projects under FOD efficiently and effectively, and to achieve their very purpose at the end of the day.

The participating offices were able to come up with four business plans, which will be further reviewed and improved to see if they are feasible for actual implementation in the region. ### (Ericson Guiao, PSO North Luzon InfoACE)