Farmer organizations from 12 countries in Asia participated in the first session of a three-part Business Continuity Plan (BCP) training, jointly organized by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and the DGRV Philippines.
Over 50 representatives from AFA member and partner organizations and DGRV partners, attended the first session of the training, “Business Continuity Plan Overview: Introduction to Business Continuity Management System,” which was held on 23 July 2026 via Zoom.
The session was formally opened by Ray Hörnle, DGRV Philippines Project Director, who welcomed participants and underscored the importance of preparing farmer organizations to withstand crises.
Lany Rebagay, AFA Deputy Secretary General, highlighted that the training series will help farmer organizations develop at least one BCP tailored to their needs.
Luis Herrera, DGRV Philippines Project Advisor, introduced the fundamentals of Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS), including the risk chain framework of threats, vulnerabilities, and risks.
Participants shared real challenges such as weather-related damage to greenhouses in Laos, payment delays from the government in India, and market competition from large corporate investors. Discussions emphasized that BCP is not just about knowledge but about changing practices. Key takeaways included the importance of preparing for disruptions before they occur, conducting strong SWOT analyses, and prioritizing prevention over reaction during crises. The session concluded with reflections from participants and a reminder that preparation and resilience are vital to safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods amid growing risks.
The Training on Business Continuity Plan for Farmers Organizations is designed to strengthen the resilience of farmer organizations by equipping them with practical tools to anticipate and manage disruptions. Its objectives focus on enhancing risk management capacity, fostering the exchange of best practices, and building organizational resilience to ensure continuity of operations even in times of crisis.
Session 1 Program
| Time | Activity | Person-in-Charge |
| 3:00-3:05 | Acknowledgment of participants Photo | Junie Pandela, BDO, AFA |
| 3:06-3:10 | Opening message/Objectives Key message | Lany Rebagay, Deputy Secretary General, AFA Mr. Reinhold Hoernle, Project Director, DRGV Philippines |
| 3:11-3:14 | First Part: 1. Introduction to Business Continuity Management 2. Understanding the Risk Chain 3. Impact Categories Open Forum (10 mins) | Luis Herrera, Project Advisor, DGRV |
| 4:01-4:05 | Ice breaker/Quiz time | Junie Pandela & Leo Mendoza, BDO, AFA |
| 4:06-4:45 | Second Part: 1. Business Continuity Management System 2. Establishing the BCMS Foundation Open Forum (10 mins) | Luis Herrera, Project Advisor, DGRV |
| 4:46-4:55 | Lessons learned/key takeaways from the participants | Participants |
| 4:55-5:00 | Closing message (AFA) | Toolos Bostonbaev, AFA Chairman |
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