Thirty-one (31) agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the New Caridad United Farmers Association (NCUFA) in Tulunan, North Cotabato have acquired new techniques on farming, marketing, planning, and management as they graduate from the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) Farm Business School (FBS) program.

FBS is a 25-hands-on session established by the DAR, Agricultural Training Institute, and the local government units in the locality, which aims to teach farmers to become agricultural entrepreneurs.

Roy Gullos, one of the FBS graduates, said that the program has taught them the basics of bookkeeping, cash flows, labor, market surveys, networking and linkaging, decision-making, business planning, product packaging, costing, and selling.

“This program has helped us change our perspective on farming and look at it as the best opportunity to venture into business,” Gullos said.

Gullos is hoping that their association, which is presently engaged in the buying and selling of rubber, coconut and corn, will upgrade its services and be registered as a cooperative.

Charish Paña, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, said that the program has inspired the ARBs to practice and pursue entrepreneurship to increase their income.

“Building up the capabilities of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in handling and marketing their farm products is among the priorities of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to improve their quality of life,” Paña said.

Tatlumpu’t isang (31) agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) ng New Caridad United Farmers Association (NCUFA) sa Tulunan, North Cotabato ang natuto ng mga bagong pamamaraan sa pagsasaka, marketing, pagpaplano, at pamamahala sa kanilang pagtatapos sa Farm Business School (FBS) ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Ang FBS ay isang 25-hands-on session na itinatag ng DAR, Agricultural Training Institute, at ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa lokalidad, na naglalayong turuan ang mga magsasaka na maging mga negosyanteng pang-agrikultura.

Ayon kay Roy Gullos, isa sa mga nagtapos sa FBS, na ang programa ay nagturo sa kanila ng bookkeeping, cash flow, labor, market survey, networking at linkaging, decision-making, business planning, product packaging, costing at selling.

“Nakatulong ang programang ito sa amin na baguhin ang aming pananaw sa pagsasaka at tingnan ito bilang pinakamahusay na oportunidad para makipagsapalaran sa negosyo,” ani Gullos.

Umaasa si Gullos na ang kanilang asosasyon, na kasalukuyang nakikibahagi sa pagbili at pagbebenta ng goma, niyog at mais, ay mapataas ang kalidad ng kanilang serbisyo at mairehistro ito bilang isang kooperatiba.

SInabi ni Charish Paña, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, na naging inspirasyon sa mga magsasaka ang programa upang magsanay at magsikap sa pagnenegosyo upang madagdagan ang kanilang kita.

"Ang pagpapalakas ng kakayahan ng mga agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) sa pamamahala at pagmemerkado ng kanilang mga produktong pangsaka ay kabilang sa mga prayoridad ni DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III upang mapabuti ang kalidad ng kanilang buhay,” ani Paña.