To capacitate agripreneurs on financial management and business plan development, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), tapped Go Negosyo to conduct a two-day workshop, titled Capacity Building Workshop for Agripreneurship under the BAR Agri-Fishery Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) Program, on 24-25 May 2023 in Diliman, Quezon City.
This is in line with the agreements during the ATBI validation workshop and proposal writeshop held on 6-10 February 2023, wherein conducting capability-building activities for proponents was identified to bridge one of the gaps of the bureau’s ATBI program implementation.
“Take advantage of the time and opportunity you have to converse with our experts. Ask questions, seek clarifications, throw in ideas, and raise suggestions, all towards expanding your familiarity and knowledge in the area of R4D that you participate in. As leaders of your respective groups, you hold the responsibility to deliver the learnings you gained to your fellow incubatees and ensure that these will translate into sustainable actions through which your program will prosper,” said DA-BAR director Dr. Junel Soriano, in his welcoming remarks.
Meanwhile, Go Negosyo senior adviser Dr. William Dar said, “We need to incubate and nurture the incubatees, those with heart and mind, to make a win-win proposition in this country. We want to focus the attention on the joint efforts of Go Negosyo and DA-BAR with other partners to bring in agribusiness. We should do a win-win proposition. The reason behind this partnership is because we wanted the agripreneurship to be technology-based.”
Attended by DA-BAR staff and Agricultural Technology Business Incubation (ATBI) project implementers from DA regional offices in Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Cordillera Administrative Region, the workshop consisted of lectures on Business Model Canvas, Accounting and Financial Management, and Business Plan Development. These topics were discussed by Go Negosyo mentors, Polytechnic University of the Philippines senior lecturer Bienvenido Nito, Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation Graduate School professor Dr. Deborah Castillo, and Rizal Technology University professor Leslie Ann Cara, respectively.
The lecture was followed by the workshop proper where participants were grouped to create their business plan. The outputs were presented through business pitching. The mentors gave their comments and recommendations to further guide the participants in improving their outputs. Lastly, attendees were given the opportunity to share their insights on the workshop.
“Na-appreciate ko 'yong ginawa ng DA-BAR kasi na-encourage at na-improve [ang] aming kakayanan para matulungan din ang aming mga incubatees,” said North Cotabato TBI manager Jeisa Durana during the testimonial sharing.