Community-Based Enterprise Development Program

Community-based enterprises are small scale economic and business ventures primarily owned, managed and operated by members of people's organizations in the mainly agricultural communities.

SIBAT deems it necessary to complete the organic production-based socio-economic development efforts it has started in farming communities with support system in product development, processing, packaging, labeling and marketing thus borne the program.

The introduction and widespread adoption of organic production practices by farmers in SIBAT-assisted communities have already a reached certain level of maturity and production surplus. Adding value to the products to achieve premium market price for the sustainable benefit of the organic farmers is one of the ultimate goals of the program.

The Enterprise Development Program as a new dimension to promote sustainable agriculture will provide capacity building support on the following spheres of work in the communities' socio-economic ventures:

• Product development and market research;
• Resource mobilization;
• Organic standards and certification;
• Establishment of internal quality control system; and
• Market linkaging and partnership building.

Presently, the Mangarita Organic Farm [MOF] in Capas, Tarlac and the SIBAT's Sibol People's Store in Quezon City are two strategic, center-based enterprise mechanisms that were established ahead to gain a headway in organic production to market experience. The MOF being a center-based organic production cum training and demonstration farm generally aims to motivate farmers from adjacent communities to participate and convert their conventional farms to organic. Thus the Sibol People Store and MOF are institutionally initiated to also aid future community-based enterprises have an alternative organic niche market channels.

PADC, January 13, 2010