The Department of Agriculture-CAR Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program conducted its second batch of Cross Learning Visit to successful Agri-based Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and clusters in Region III. This was participated in by F2C2 Program personnel, banner program representatives, Provincial/Municipal focal persons and Farmers’ Cooperatives and Association (FCA) representatives from the provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, and Benguet.

This three-day activity included learning visits to a Dairy Farm managed by Tapulao Multipurpose Cooperative; the Cupang West Multipurpose Cooperative which is an established rice cluster; City Vet Feed Mill, and the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (sugar mill). The participants also visited the Taiwan Technical Mission in the Philippines in Tarlac City and its beneficiary including an established multi-crop commodity cluster – the Sembrano Climate Resilient Farmers Agriculture Cooperative Farm located in Gerona, Tarlac.

Through the activity, the participants gained insights from the various agri-based MSMEs enabling them to effectively collate and assess their different production, processing, post-harvest and quality standards of enterprise operation. They to capture the best also captured best practices and partnership, networking and linkaging of these enterprises for possible adaption to further develop and strengthen their clustering activities in their areas. Among the emphases of the learning visit is having the essence of cooperation and harmonization efforts among the cluster members towards productive and sustainable organizations, thus lessening the individualism among each organization.//Jhazelyn Mang-osan, Admin and Finance Division
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