ASSESSING THE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, AND THE ROLE OF THE TRADING POST (Taboan) AT MANTALONGON, DALAGUETE, CEBU AS A COMPONENT IN AN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM

ASSESSING THE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, AND THE ROLE OF THE TRADING POST (Taboan) AT MANTALONGON, DALAGUETE, CEBU AS A COMPONENT IN AN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM

ASSESSING THE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, AND THE ROLE OF THE TRADING POST (Taboan) AT MANTALONGON, DALAGUETE, CEBU AS A COMPONENT IN AN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM

Farm PracticeJim Leandro P. CanoIntroductionAgriculture has been the backbone and one of the major determinants in societies development.

Increase in global and domestic population has increased demand for food and at the same time, agricultural lands in the Philippines are continually being transformed into residential lands.

IntroductionSupply chain of agricultural goods in the Philippines is complex and composed of various players:Input suppliers

Producers (farmers)

Traders (agents, assemblers, financier-wholesalers, wholesale-retailers/retailers/supermarkets)

Transporters / Shippers

ConsumersIntroductionIn 2009, Agricultural Fisheries Market Information System (AFMIS) reported in an article that there were newly opened Barangay Bagsakan (BB) projects in the Central Visayas region.

The purpose of BBs was to ensure farmers and consumers that there is a permanent avenue where there is a steady supply of safe and affordable quality farm products would be available.

The BBs were established to cut the many layers of middlemen in the supply chain which contributed to the high cost of goods for end-consumers at the end of the chain.IntroductionThe aims and goals of the Barangay Bagsakan projects is very much needed in the rural areas of the country and so it is therefore important to look into the established Bagsakan Centers (Taboan in Cebuano), to see whether they are meeting the goals and objectives for which they were established.Statement of the ProblemThe supply chain of agricultural goods is complex and there are many layers of middlemen in the chain. The establishment of Barangay Bagsakan centers is supposed to cut the long chain between the producers and consumers. It is thus imperative to see whether the trading posts are meeting the goals and objectives of the project. Its operations must be checked for the purpose of validating if their presence is really increasing the income of farmers and making the goods cheaper for the consumers. Significance of the StudyThere are many Barangay Bagsakan centers around the country and with their growing number, it is important for us to assess whether the established systems of these posts are efficient enough to increase farmers income, lessen cost of goods, and lessen the layers of middlemen along the supply chain. ObjectivesThe general objective of the practicum is for the student to be exposed on the marketing of farm produce by documenting and analyzing the Mantalongon Trading Post (Taboan) of Dalaguete, Cebu (for 224 hours).

At the end of the practicum, the student should be able to:

Understand the supply chain of vegetables in Cebu Province;

Identify the factors that influence the supply chain of vegetables in Cebu Province;

Observe and document how the Mantalongon Trading Post operates and is managed;

ObjectivesUnderstand the marketing concepts of the Trading Post in bridging the producers, traders, and consumers;

Analyse the effectiveness and efficiency of the Trading Post as a marketing strategy;

Recommend measures for improving the operation of the Trading Post;

MethodologyThe intern was made to report to the Municipal Agriculture and Natural Resources Office (MANRO) of the Municipal Government of Dalaguete, Cebu.

Man-hours were then also fulfilled at the mountain where the main Vegetable Trading Center was. The time spent at the Trading Post was usually from 3AM to 10PM. The student was there to observe the arrival and the actual trading of the goods.

Input vendors were interviewed; checking what input companies were present at the stores

Farmers, kargadors, packers, commissioners, and LGU staff were also interviewed.

Secondary data from MANRO was also acquired to help understand the market situation of Dalaguete.Outline of StudySupply Chain (Analysis)Definition of Supply ChainSignificance of Analysing Supply Chain in the Trade of Agricultural GoodsFactors Affecting Supply ChainsInfrastructure in the Philippines that Support Supply Chain of Agricultural GoodsExisting machineries, technologies, etc.Future of Infrastructure in the Philippines

Outline of the StudySupply Chain and Marketing of Vegetables in the Mantalongon, Dalaguete Trading Post (Taboan)Mantalongon Trading Post LocationFacilities (buildings, office, etc.)Goods traded Stakeholders of the Trading PostDepartment of Agriculture Local Government UnitCooperativeProducersRetailersTradersConsumersPost-harvest technologies utilized

Outline of the StudyThe Marketing ChannelSupply Chain Analysis of the Trading PostMarketing concepts involvedMarket / End-consumers of Vegetables Sold at Trading Post

Location and Time of the Practicum

The student will be dispatched to the Mantalongon Trading Post, Dalaguete, Cebu to observe, document, and analyse the marketing scheme of vegetables in the area. This trading post was constructed through a joint undertaking of the Department of Agriculture and the Municipal Government of Dalaguete. It is under the management of the local government unit (LGU) of the Dalaguete Municipality in partnership with a Farmers Cooperative.

Activities to be Undertaken

Courtesy call with the LGU of Dalaguete.Collection and review available secondary data on supply chain and about the Mantalongon Trading Post.Identification and coordination and interaction with key players in the vegetable supply chain of Cebu to include the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Agribusiness Division of the Dain Cebu, the LGU of Dalaguete, Farmers Cooperative and farmers.Data collection on the supply chain and the Mantalongon Trading Post.Analysis and assessment of observations and data collected.

Scope and Limitations of Activities

The student is tasked to observe and assess the supply chain of vegetables that go through the Mantalongon Trading Post.

The study includes observation and assessment of the interaction between the different factors behind the production and sale of goods, and also of the operations and management of the trading post.

The study will not cover marketing of vegetables outside of Dalaguete Municipality or those that do not go through the Mantalongon Trading Post.