Transforming Farmers into Entrepreneurs: Our Journey and Impact

In 2008, Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) launched Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) to bridge the gap between smallholder farmers and large-scale business opportunities previously beyond their reach.

FEP creates partnerships with local government units, financing institutions and non-government organizations to bring together a comprehensive suite of interventions that respond to farmers’ felt and strategic needs. These include helping farming communities set up cooperatives to better mobilize resources, and teaching them marketing skills through training and coaching. At the core of FEP is the training component designed to hone farmers’ business acumen, technical expertise, leadership and organizational skills.

Through FEP, JGF transforms smallholder farmers into agro-entrepreneurs with the scale and capacity to transact with institutional buyers such as Jollibee Group. As a result, farmers build the self-confidence and sense of community to dream bigger. JGF hopes that through their newfound pride and passion, they will inspire more people, especially the younger generations, to get into agro-entrepreneurship.

Today, the white onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and other vegetables that Jollibee Group uses in Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal come directly from FEP farmers. Their deliveries cover about 15% of the company’s vegetable requirements.

*

17

FARMER GROUPS
regularly delivering
to Jollibee Group

9.8M KILOS

OF VEGETABLES
delivered since 2009

PHP 411M

WORTH OF SALES
for the farmers
(USD 7.36M)

FEP Site Map

JGF Farmer Entrepreneurship Program Site Map

Agro-entrepreneurship
for Inclusive Value Chains Course

In 2021, JGF in partnership with Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan launched the “Agro-entrepreneurship for Inclusive Value Chains Course”, an online course designed to build the competency of agri extension managers who can organize and train farmers for collective marketing through the eight-step Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach.

The course is an adaptation of the eight-month FEP Agro-enterprise Training (AgenT), which utilized a blended learning approach of classroom lectures, on-site field coaching, and online sharing of resources and experiences.

With the pandemic posing a challenge in the traditional conduct of trainings such as AgenT, the online course was developed to continue the capacity-building program. In transitioning to a distance learning process, the original courseware was divided into two courses: Introduction, which tackles the first three steps of the Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach; and Intermediate, which delves into the succeeding steps until market delivery. 

The course merges theory and practice through the involvement of resource persons from JGF partners who have successfully implemented the Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach and are assisting farmer groups directly supplying Jollibee Group and other companies. 

Successful course completers of the Introduction course can earn eight (8) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units.

Who Should Attend

Leaders and key personnel of institutions involved in programs that organize and/or support smallholder farmers. Institutions can be cooperatives, financing institutions, foundations and NGOs, local government units, and government agencies.

Learning Methodology

Weekly three-hour synchronous sessions will be conducted via Zoom, an online meeting platform.

Resources for self-directed learning will be available 24/7 via eLearn, Xavier University’s Learning Management System.

Participants are expected to work on weekly assignments to ensure application of concepts learned.