Agribusiness development in Ilocos [Philippines]: the key to expanding impacts of R and D outputs

Teaching the farmers to become entrepreneurs guarantee sustainable farming. Increasing rice productivity and other crops, and connecting these farmers to expanding markets can further generate jobs in the farms and non-farm sectors. In this way, agricultural production technologies developed recommended and adopted by farmers can ensure sustainability development, the ultimate goal of research and development and the real pathway to improve farmers' welfare.Capacitating the rice and rice-based farmers with agribusiness and entrepreneurship knowledge is one of the interventions that improve efficiency and farming sustainability. This strategy creates an enabling environment for agricultural productivity and agricultural development as more farmers are encouraged to produced more and market more for them to rise above their present status. As farmers learn the business side of farming in addition to the production technologies extended crop production risk and vulnerabilities are reduce and farmers' productivity is enhanced. As this transition progresses, the rice and rice-based farmers will become more significant in their role to increase food sufficiency. The project aimed to increase competitiveness of farmers by improving their supply chain coordination, increasing agricultural productivity and income. The project was undertaken through the conduct of focus group discussion, series of seminar-workshop and some consultation with FPs. the seminar-workshop on feasibility studies/business plans, value addition;product presentation, packaging and distribution were conducted in 7 sites and participated by 213 farmers. The seminar-workshops have resulted to the implementation of agribusiness ventures and identification of other potential business enterprises. Results revealed that the agricultural entrepreneurship activities contributed to productivity increase, product quality improvement and diversification while strengthening producers linkage to markets. The project also provided advisory services to improve the business environment, enabling the farmers as middlemen/traders themselves by assisting them in value-adding their products.