Enhancing the Competitiveness of Small Farmers was presented by Mr. Jing Pacturan, Executive Director Philippines Development Assistance Program during the 3rd LSFM RTW. He started the session with a competitive game which simulated the dynamics of market in the real world. Based on the experience of the game, he drew the participants’ insights about entrepreneurship, management, and leadership. He proceeded to discuss the various stages of development of rural communities (from survival, to productivity, to growth).
He dwelt on the need to go beyond increase in productivity by moving toward enterprise development. Ms. Pacturan also discussed the various challenges to LSFM which includes the trend of agriculture becoming a major part of globalized trading, the rise of supermarkets, the preference for healthy foods and organic products and climate change. He reviewed the factors affecting small farmer participation in the supply chain, and the need to see the importance of really having impact on the value chain.
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