MAFAR Tawi-Tawi launches farm business school project

TAWI-TAWI – To improve and strengthen the entrepreneur skills of farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) in this island, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Tawi-Tawi launched on Jan. 23, a Farm Business School (FBS) project at Barangay Timundun, Simunul Municipality.

Through the FBS, 25 students from Manuk Mangkaw Look-Datan Farmers Association (MLFA) will undergo 25 sessions within four (4) months, covering lessons on the approach on farming techniques; venue to carry out collective and collaborative action; addressing business, marketing problems and opportunities; and knowledge sharing through discussions, practical exercises, and self-study.

MAFAR Tawi-Tawi’s Provincial Director Dr. Aidarus Nami and Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Engr. Jimson Jalilul led the launching ceremony of the FBS, as well as the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the project’s implementation.

MAFAR Tawi-Tawi inked the MOA with its partner agencies and stakeholders such as the Ministries of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT), Science and Technology (MOST), Labor and Employment (MOLE), MLFA, local government units (LGU) of Simunul,  barangay LGUs, and ARB organizations

In his message, Director Nami said MAFAR is steadfast in its mandate to translate agri-fishery development into a positive result with its clientele that will be benefitted.

“I am very proud that the Municipality of Simunul and its ARBs are very supportive into attaining the development of their Agricultural Farming,” Nami said, thanking Simunul LGU, headed by Mayor 𝖶𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗅𝖺𝗁 𝖠𝖻𝖽𝗎𝗋𝖺𝗁𝗆𝖺𝗇.

Meanwhile, Municipal Administrator 𝖭𝖺𝗀𝗎𝗆𝗈 𝖲𝖺𝗅𝖺𝗉𝗎𝖽𝖽𝗂𝗇, representing the LGU, also expressed their appreciation for having an FBS in their municipality, and signified their full commitment to the program.

At the end of the event, farm inputs such as 15 rolls of hog wires and 15 bolos were also distributed as an initial support to the ARBs. More farming interventions will be rolled out as the FBS session progresses. (Abdel Nasser Tahang/BIO)