With the goal of transforming farmers into agripreneurs, the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 8 (DA RFO 8) rolled out a four-day Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach (AECA) Training from September 30 to October 3 in Tacloban City, gathering members of various Farmers’ Irrigation Associations (FIAs) in District 2.

The training aimed to sharpen the entrepreneurial mindset of the participating associations and equip them with the skills needed to shift from traditional production practices to more business-oriented, market-driven farming enterprises.

The training operates under the F2C2 (Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program) in which the objective is to: (1) achieve economies of scale, (2) stronger linkages among markets and producers, (3) improve bargaining and market power, (4) establish better access to credit and financing, encourage active Big Brother -Small Brother partnership, and (6) raise overall productivity of agricultural sector.

Through a series of interactive lectures, workshops, and planning sessions, participants gained deeper insights into enterprise development, value-adding, cluster-based marketing, and collective action — tools essential for improving profitability and competitiveness in the agri-sector.

The training concluded with participating associations presenting their initial business concepts and strategies, signaling a stronger step toward building sustainable and resilient agro-enterprises across Eastern Visayas.

With initiatives like AECA, DA RFO 8 continues to champion its vision of empowering local farmers — not just as producers of food, but as entrepreneurs driving the region’s agricultural growth.