SAN LUIS, AGUSAN DEL SUR — Seventy Indigenous Peoples (IP) farmers in San Luis are gaining practical business skills through the EntrepFarm Game Training, an interactive initiative designed to help transform their farms into more sustainable and profitable enterprises. The training was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Sur in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga's Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo (4K) Program. It was conducted in two batches, with the first held on August 25–26, 2026, in Doña Maxima and the second on August 27–28, 2026, at KM 54, Sitio Mimbulan, Barangay Binicalan. Instead of relying solely on conventional lectures, the training used a game-based approach that allowed farmers to experience a simulated farm business environment. Through the activity, participants practiced entrepreneurship, budgeting, resource management, decision-making, farm business planning, and risk management while seeing how their choices could affect costs, income, and overall farm performance.
Learning Through Realistic Farming Scenarios
The EntrepFarm Game gave the participating farmers an opportunity to experience situations similar to those they may encounter in their actual farming activities. Participants learned how to manage limited resources, respond to changing market conditions, negotiate with buyers, form cooperatives, and explore ways to add value to their agricultural products. The interactive format made the lessons more engaging and practical than traditional classroom-based training. One participant described the experience as enjoyable because it felt similar to actual farming while also providing ideas on how to market their harvest. Beyond the game, the activity encouraged farmers to view agriculture not only as a means of livelihood but also as a business opportunity that can generate better income and contribute to improved living conditions.
Preparing Farmers for Smarter Farm Management
The training also highlighted the importance of strategic planning, financial discipline, and managing risks in agricultural enterprises. Participants were grouped into “families” and provided with equal amounts of cash and resources before going through different stages of a simulated production cycle. The exercise included activities such as negotiating with middlemen, organizing cooperatives, manufacturing and value-adding, and eventually exploring exportation. Each decision influenced the results of the simulated business, allowing participants to understand how planning and resource allocation can affect farm profitability.
The initiative is particularly significant in supporting Indigenous Cultural Communities within their ancestral domains. By equipping IP farmers with practical enterprise-management skills, the program complements the DA Caraga 4K Program's efforts to strengthen agricultural livelihoods while supporting DTI Agusan del Sur's entrepreneurship development initiatives. Through this innovative approach, the EntrepFarm Game Training aims to help farmers make more informed decisions, prepare for market challenges, and recognize the potential of their farms as sustainable enterprises.
