BACOOR CITY, Cavite - "Napakarami pong kaalaman na natutunan at champion na mga facilitators, ibang klaseng mga resource speakers. Excited na po akong maibahagi ang kaalaman hindi lamang sa magsasaka, kundi sa kanilang mga tagapag-mana, para po hindi 57 years old ang age level ng farmers kundi millenial farmers na."

Ms. Analiza Villarba of VFNR Agricultural Farm is among the 29 proud graduates of the Training of Facilitators Farm Business School led by ATI Region IV-A in partnership with Villar SIPAG from April 1-5 (Phase I) and April 8-12, 2019 (Phase II).

This extension modality is designed to train leaders to conduct Farm Business School (farmer-level) in their respective communities, and help farmers learn and improve their skills in entrepreneurship and farm business management. The course is divided in two phases, comprising topics on starting the farm business school, understanding concepts on farm business profitability developing a business plan, basic taxation, facilitation and presentation skills.

It also introduces a market-oriented extension scheme at the farm level that enables engagement of farmers in developing their capacity for running profitable farm businesses.

During the closing program, Municipal Agriculturist of Rizal, Laguna, Dr. Aldwin Subijano shared how this new skill and acquired knowledge on FBS will help their constituents.

"Bilang Municipal Agriculturist ng Rizal, Laguna na isang 5th Class municipality, ngayon ay nakikita ko na napakalaki ng potensyal upang umunlad batay sa iba’t ibang enterprise na maituturo natin sa mga magsasaka. Ang Farm Business School po sa pamumuno ng Agricultural Training Institute at VillarSIPAG ang magiging gabay namin para makamit ang aming layunin na mabigyan ng maliwanag na kinabukasan at masaganang buhay ang bawat magsasakang entrepreneur."

An advocate of FBS, Chaiman of Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Senator Cynthia Villar said that FBS will help farmers to think smart and bright and will equip them with useful knoweldge and skills to compete. Villar served as the keynote speaker during the closing ceremonies of the said training and of the Climate Smart Farm Business School (Central Luzon) at Villar SIPAG Farm School in this city.

With reports from: Ric Jason Areza