CALABARZON, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture in Calabarzon (DA-4A) is actively promoting the Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program, aiming to connect local farmers with institutional buyers and provide them with essential agricultural and business skills.
According to Philippines News Agency, the DA-4A focal person for the F2C2 program, this initiative is designed to augment farmers' production capabilities through the provision of modern machinery, agricultural inputs, and essential facilities. The program embodies one of the DA's 18 strategic objectives to achieve scale economies, establish stable market connections, and enhance the farmers' business acumen through various training sessions.
The F2C2 program intends to amalgamate farmer organizations with similar produce to enhance their collective production and financial returns. Santiago highlighted that one significant advantage for farmers participating in this program is the increased leverage in price negotiations, alongside access to diverse support mechanisms from DA's affiliated bodies.
The department is bolstering the program's implementation via the Cluster Development Plan (CDP) enhancement writeshop, which is crucial for refining the CDP's content. This workshop leads to the creation of a detailed five-year plan encapsulating each cluster's identity, current status, and needs, laying the groundwork for targeted interventions and services.
Currently, Calabarzon boasts 127 active clusters, with plans to expand by an additional 48 within the year. The program's execution is shaping the expertise of agricultural extension workers and cluster officers across various organizations, including the Sariaya Farmers Federation, High Value Crops Farmers of Sariaya, and the Sariaya Corn Farmers Association in Quezon province.
The CDP's goal is to chart a prosperous trajectory for these clusters, spanning from production enhancement to sales, ensuring sustainable income growth. Participants are expected to benefit from comprehensive market integration, educational opportunities, and access to crucial agricultural resources such as seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, machinery, and facilities, as detailed by Santiago.