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SEARCA, DA-BAR capacitate implementing partners in DA Regional Offices, SUCs, and NGOs on financial viability and profitability analysis

By Rebeka A. Paller25 February 2019 FANSSEA News

Second batch of trainees together with Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar (front row, center), DA-BAR Director; SEARCA Project Development and Technical Services (PDTS) staff led by Ms. Nancy M. Landicho (front row, fourth from left), Program Specialist and Officer-in-Charge, with Ms. Imelda L. Batangantang (front row, third from right), Program Specialist; and the Project Team led by Dr. Corazon T. Aragon (front row, fourth from right), Project Leader and Dr. Cesar B. Quicoy (front row, third from left), Financial Viability ExpertSecond batch of trainees together with Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar (front row, center), DA-BAR Director; SEARCA Project Development and Technical Services (PDTS) staff led by Ms. Nancy M. Landicho (front row, fourth from left), Program Specialist and Officer-in-Charge, with Ms. Imelda L. Batangantang (front row, third from right), Program Specialist; and the Project Team led by Dr. Corazon T. Aragon (front row, fourth from right), Project Leader and Dr. Cesar B. Quicoy (front row, third from left), Financial Viability Expert

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines – The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Philippine Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) conducted the training of the second batch of participants on Financial Viability and Profitability Analysis of Agricultural Technologies and Enterprises on 18-23 February 2019 at the SEARCA headquarters. 

A total of 35 selected soybean project implementers from state universities and colleges (SUCs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs), DA Regional Field Offices, and DA-BAR participated in the training.

The training aims to provide knowledge and improve the skills of the research personnel from various academic and research institutions in conducting financial viability and profitability analysis. The major topics covered were cost and returns analysis, break-even analysis, partial budgeting, break-even budgeting, and financial and sensitivity analyses.

The training-workshop was a combination of discussions and laboratory exercises with hands-on experience on computer applications of various analytical tools used in the evaluation of the profitability of processing technologies and enterprises.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Nicomedes P. Eleazar, DA-BAR Director, commended the soybean project implementers as he considers it as one of the most successful projects initiated by DA- BAR. He stressed that he views this training as important to be able to share the knowledge and skills of conducting financial viability and profitability analysis for research technical personnel of various academic and research institutions.

He encouraged the participants to echo the information and knowledge acquired through the training to their colleagues. He added that financial analysis should be done before the conduct or during the preparation of packaging the project. He reiterated that conduct of financial analysis helps strengthen the technology commercialization program.

On behalf of Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., Chair of the SEARCA Governing Board and UPLB Chancellor, Ms. Nancy M. Landicho, SEARCA Program Specialist and Officer-in-Charge for Project Development and Technical Services (PDTS), delivered the welcome message. In his speech, Dr. Sanchez mentioned the importance of agricultural technologies in increasing productivity, especially of small and medium-scale agricultural enterprises, which are considered major drivers of Philippine agriculture-based industries. Dr. Sanchez noted that SEARCA's continuing support to the project comes from its understanding of the important role of agricultural technologies in increasing farm productivity, especially of small and medium-scale agro-enterprises, which are considered major drivers of Philippine agriculture-based industry. He further stressed that it is important to ensure that these technologies and emerging enterprises are first and foremost applicable to the existing conditions of the market and the environment as well as proven to equitably benefit the many stakeholders of the agriculture sector, especially our farmers. Finally, Dr. Sanchez thanked DA-BAR for once again giving SEARCA the opportunity to continue working with the Bureau through this training project.

Dr. Corazon T. Aragon, Project Leader, presented the training mechanics and introduced the participants during the opening program. Dr. Aragon also provided lectures and discussions on the following topics: Cost and Returns Analysis, Partial Budget Analysis, Financial Cash Flow Analysis (Types of Benefits and Costs in Financial Cash Flow Analysis and Undiscounted Measures of Project Worth: Payback Period and Return on Investments), Discounted Measures of Project Worth, and Sensitivity Analysis.

Aside from Dr. Aragon, the other members of the project team are Dr. Cesar B. Quicoy, Financial Viability Expert; Dr. Antonio Jesus A. Quilloy, Financial Viability Manual Designer; and Prof. Bates M. Bathan, Training Facilitator.

Ms. Evelyn H. Juanillo, DA-BAR Information Officer IV and Head of the Administrative Division, congratulated the participants during her closing remarks. She thanked everyone for participating in the training program, which will help business-minded people to venture into agribusiness. She reiterated that businesses anchored on agriculture and fisheries platform are some of the most profitable enterprises they can venture into and a wise investment would require a sound financial banking. Ms. Juanillo emphasized that the new financial management received during this program will help sharpen the financial skills and, more importantly, give assertive judgment to assess and validate whether a particular project study will be feasible or not. She also stressed the importance of sharing the learnings to their colleagues in their respective institutions. Finally, she congratulated and commended SEARCA staff who organized the training program.

The activity was led by the SEARCA PDTS headed by Ms. Nancy M. Landicho together with Ms. Imelda L. Batangantang, Program Specialist; and Ms. Amy A. Antonio, Ms. Nikka Marie P. Billedo, and Ms. Rebeka A. Paller, PDTS Project Assistants, who provided the technical and logistical support during the training.