CEFE TRAINING PROGRAMS

THE ENTREFARM GAME

The Entrefarm Game was developed by the Passion for Perfection Consultancy in Quezon City, Philippines in order to be used as a centerpiece training tool for helping farmers to become enterprising.  It is a training instrument which can effectively serve as the bridge in the linking of farm-based activities of  coops and private farm operators to off-farm processing and industry-focused economic activities.

The Entrefarm Game enables the farmers to learn about the implications of:

• Planning and budgeting money and time

• Land use, investment and crop options

• Planning use of capital

• Maintaining a positive cash flow

• Keeping records

• Managing finances

• Negotiating with buyers, suppliers and neighbors

• Depending on the middlemen

• Taking initiative in life

The Entrefarm Game has the following modules:

Module 1: Basic Farming Cycle

In this module, the participants are divided into 6 families who farm 3 hectares of land each.  Activities include planning, acquisition of equipment, land preparation, procurement of materials, spending for family and community needs, harvesting and selling of produce.  These take place in a span of eight months.  Unpredictable life events occur such as unexpected calamities and expenses and changes in family circumstances.  Families compare their profits at the end of the module.

Other issues which are relevant in this module are the implications of farm planning for subsistence production and the benefits of  surplus production.

By the end of Module 1, the participants should be able to:

• Explain the business cycle as applied to farm business.

• Practice proper allocation of funds for business and personal expenses.

• Analyze the importance of maintaining positive cash flow.

• Analyze the importance of keeping accurate records.

• Operate and manage a farm business profitably.

Module 2: Negotiation and Cooperativism

Participants are divided into 7 groups.  The first six may be the same farming families in Module 1 and an additional group of middlemen is formed out of those who wish to engage in trading of farm products.  Cooperatives may also be formed by any group consisting of at least 3 groups, engaging in credit or marketing services or supply of fertilizers and pesticides.  The farmers produce any one or a combination of rice, corn, vegetables, fruits or strawberries on their land.  The module lasts for eight months, ending in the payment of income taxes to the government.  The winning family or group is that which registers highest return on investment.

By the end of Module 2, the participants should be able to:

• Analyze the importance of maintaining positive cash flow.

• Analyze the importance of keeping accurate financial records.

• Operate and manage a multi-crop farm business profitably.

• Formulate strategies to adapt to price fluctuations in the market.

• Practice effective negotiation skills to obtain a good price for farm products.

• Realize the importance of organizing a farmers cooperative or association.

Module 3: Processing of Products

Farmers face additional options – continue with the traditional farming, process their produce into finished goods or give-up farming and sell their land at a high price.  Farmers who go into food processing have to submit a rudimentary business plan which facilitators rate for viability.  Prices commanded in the market are dependent on the viability ratings obtained.

By the end of Module 3, the participants should be able to:

• Analyze the importance of maintaining positive cash flow.

• Analyze the importance of keeping accurate financial records.

• Operate and manage a food processing factory business profitably.

• Formulate strategies to adapt to price fluctuations in the market.

• Practice effective negotiation skills to obtain a good price for one’s products.

• Realize the importance of adding value to one’s products.