CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project RPCO 10 through Project Director and Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado holds a Cacao strategic planning workshop for cacao proponent groups on February 13-16, this city.

Ameroche Caba, PRDP-PSO Organizational Development Specialist said that the output of the workshop is a valuable input to the Mindanao region’s strategic directions for the cacao clusters.

RPCO 10 Project Director and Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado together with the participants and facilitators of the workshop. (Photo by RPCO 10)

These include coming up with a strategic plan for Region 10 and creating a steering committee that will oversee the implementation of the said plan.

Some members of the Balaoro Farmers Association , Inc. (BAFA) of Kadingilan, Bukidnon, and Bugcaon Kulasihan Manupali Irrigators Association (BUKUMA IA) of Lantapan, Bukidnon were capacitated to focus on setting the direction of the regional cacao cluster, including the challenges and strategies for collaboration.

It further emphasizes the formulation of vision, mission, and strategy tools like strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats which is vital in the development plan.

The workshop is in preparation for the Mindanao CAFÉ (Convergence of Agriculture and Fishery Enterprise):3rd PRDP Consultation and Workshop for Cacao Proponent Groups on the third week of February in Davao City.

Partner agencies supporting the activity comprised the Department of Trade and Industry 10, DA-Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, with the LGUs and DA-10’s High Value Crops Development Program and Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2).# (ATCabig)