TRAINING FOR FISHERFOLK & MSMES

Cordova Fisherfolk Train in Enterprise Assessment and Business Modelling to Improve Income

By Mary Ruth Ochavillo. Posted on DECEMBER 29, 2024.

Cordova, Cebu – On November 23, 2024, thirty-three (33) fisherfolk successfully completed the Basic Entrepreneurship Training organized under the FISH Visayas Project. The program aimed to empower partner fishers in Cordova by equipping them with the tools to identify suitable projects, interventions, value chains, or product lines for their specific business environments. This foundational training is designed to inspire and hone fisherfolk as entrepreneurs as they manage and sustain their bangus culture operations in fish pens.

Honing Fisherfolk as Entrepreneurs

The training program encompassed three core sessions: (1) enterprise profiling, (2) problem and objective trees, and (3) SWOT analysis. Each session included lectures and breakout workshops, providing practical and theoretical insights into entrepreneurship in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
 
Topics covered included:
  • The entrepreneurial environment in agriculture and fisheries.
  • Dynamics and challenges of entrepreneurship.
  • Overcoming barriers to entrepreneurship.
  • Adapting to change through entrepreneurial qualities and characteristics.
The creation of problem and objective trees enabled participants to analyze core organizational issues, their effects, and underlying root causes. This analysis serves as a basis for formulating solutions that align with the project’s objectives.
 
In the final session, participants were introduced to the SWOT Analysis tool, which helps develop strategies by assessing internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats within their areas of operation.
 
The training was facilitated by Mr. David Amrinto, Market Specialist III of the Department of Agriculture – RFO 7. Additionally, Mr. Rey Calooy, President of RNC Marketing and an active member of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inspired participants by sharing his entrepreneurial journey—from humble beginnings to becoming a successful business owner through perseverance and hard work.
 
Engaging Fishery-dependent Families

The program actively involved members from the Pundok sa Pobreng Mananagat sa Bangbang (PPMB), Kapunungan sa Mananagat sa Ibabao (KAMI), and Pilipog Fisherfolks Association (PIFA). The KASIMA Women’s Association also participated, underscoring the growing role of women in driving organizational and income growth within people’s organizations.
 
This initiative was made possible through the collaboration of key project partners: the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Municipality of Cordova’s Municipal Agriculturist Office, and AFOS Foundation.
 
Future Directions

Building on the success of this training, the FISH Visayas Project plans to further capacitate partner POs in digital promotions and marketing. This initiative aims to enhance the visibility of their current product offerings, particularly bangus, in local markets and to establish connections with institutional buyers.

The Basic Entrepreneurship Training for Cordova POs supports Result Area 1: Training for Fishermen and MSMEs, a key component of the FISH Visayas Project.

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