Agribusiness and investment in agriculture are the best weapons against hunger and poverty and they have made life better for billions of people (Bill and Melinda Gates). The Agribusiness Sector plays a vital role in the overall economic growth of the country. It provides research and development for the farmers to improve their productivity of high value crops through proper training with more advanced technologies in farming. It strengthens the supply chain from the farmers who produce raw materials into the manufacturing companies. However, due to the Coronavirus Disease (CoviD-19) outbreak which started to spread in the Philippines last 30 January 2020, farmers had difficulties in selling perishable goods since Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was implemented in Luzon which had a big impact on the supply chain. Walking around the streets were strictly prohibited and we were afraid to go out of the house to buy our basic necessities because it is too dangerous thinking that we might get infected by the virus. Business operations were also temporarily closed such as shopping malls, restaurants and hotels. In order to address the problem, the Department of Agriculture (DA) created an online marketplace, KAtuwang sa DIwa at gaWA (e-KADIWA) that can be accessed throughhttps://www.ekadiwa.da.gov.ph.The consumers can choose from different varieties of fresh goods and can be delivered directly to their homes. The DA was able to expand e-KADIWA program with different private sector partners such as Zagana.com, Grab, LiveGreen, AgriNurture Inc. (ANI) Express, CLICKNSHOP Sari-Sari Store, benjabi, cultigen and many more.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zagana.com, Mr. Joshua Aragon explained completely how to start an online agribusiness in Kadiwa AgriBiz Webinar which can be streamed via facebook only. Zagana.com is also an online platform that focuses on the idea of farm to kitchen. He and his team were able to deliver fresh products to the customers within 30 minutes around Manila through a partnership with GrabMart and e-Kadiwa. To ensure food safety and be able to gain trust from the customers, they require the farmers to have business permits from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Empowering the farmers is one of their objectives by educating farmers with proper training and seminar about land preparation until harvesting using modernized technologies to improve the quality of products they produce. Transparency regarding the prices is disseminated appropriately to inform the farmers how much percentage was added and to practice the aspect of fair trade. And because of this, they were able to build strong relationship with farmers and increase more networks to expand their online business to different regions of the country.
Nowadays, farmers receive little recognition and being degraded by other people. But being a farmer is actually a decent profession.There's really a hidden wealth in agriculture that encourages us to discover it out with ourselves by starting to plant now. On my free time, I help my mother to plant corn, okra, mungbean and other fast growing crops for our own consumption only and we share it with our relatives. I took this rare opportunity to apply my learnings from my course subjects while I am at home and has flexible time, which give me tranquility when I feel exhausted already doing my school works.
And when I graduate, I am planning to do business related to agriculture . For now, I am focusing on my studies because I know that engaging into business will not be easy. It needs a lot of patience before the money invested will return just like. It requires money and knowledge. It requires close monitoring of how cash flow in the business society. The resources should be allocated effectively and efficiently to avoid problems to arise. Although problems can not be prevented, it must be fully understood to come up with a step-by-step process on how to solve it so that the money and effort invested will not be wasted completely. Therefore, having proper knowledge is the key for an Agribiz to success with the business.
@CLANDESTINE0819
I'd love to run an agribusiness soon too, it'll not just help me make profit but also it'll be beneficial to all mandkind.