Pasali Participates in the Regional TOT on Climate-Smart Farm Business School

September 19 to 28, 2017 covered the 10-day Regional Training of Trainers (TOT) on CLIMATE-SMART FARM BUSINESS SCHOOL (CSFBS) held at Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center XII (ATI-RTC XII), Tantangan, South Cotabato. Twenty (20) Agricultural Extension Workers from the provinces of South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and Maguindanao responded positively to the regional office’s invitation as the first batch for CSFBS 2017.
This endeavor aims to capacitate the Agricultural Extension Workers in cascading the training in their respective areas.  It also emphasizes the transformation of conventional farmers into entrepreneurs.

The participants, including four staff from Pasali Philippines, were oriented on four modules with the following topics: Opportunities in the Implementation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC); Understanding Climate Change as a Risk; Climate Smart Agriculture; and Farming as a Business (FAAB).
With the discussion of these modules, participants were made aware on the importance of ASEAN GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), process of GAP certification,
the effects of Climate Change in Agriculture, ​Agricultural Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Soil Conservation, Water Resource Management, Crop Production Management, Decision Support Tools, Financial Risk Mechanism, Benchmarking, Basic Concepts of Farm Profitability, Farm Business Management, ​Farm Financial Management and Farm Planning and Decision Making.

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Participants’ learning was both fun and fruitful with the application of not just theoretical inputs but also with actual practicum, workshops and field visit.
A presentation and analysis of a Farm Business Plan by each group concluded the 10-day training allowing the participants to spin together everything they have learned in the process. ​

Resource person Dr. Agripina Leonico

​To ensure the success of this bi-annual undertaking, experts fr om the field were invited as Resource Persons. Speakers included personnel from the Department of Agriculture Region XII, PAG-ASA, Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), PhilRice, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) and Dr. Agripina Leonico.
 

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Having obtained fresh and innovative technologies, Agricultural Extension Workers of Region 12 together with their partner farmers are now ready to take the “Climate-Smart Farm Business” challenge.