Marketing Farmers Products Online: Selling Agricultural Products through Facebook Shop

MARKETING FARMERS PRODUCTS ONLINE
Selling Agricultural Products through Facebook Shop
4 October 2021 | 14:00 GMT+8 Manila | Zoom

Register at https://bit.ly/farmerfbshop

When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, many countries imposed lockdown, strict guidelines were implemented on borders, transportations stopped, many establishments and businesses closed, many people lose their jobs. The once busy world was put to a halt. However, food production cannot be paused. Farmers and food producers were on the frontline in the fight against the pandemic. They continue to cultivate to make sure people had food to eat. The farmers carried on with their important responsibility of feeding the world. However, they are also most affected by the pandemic.

The lockdowns resulted in the closure of transportations and markets. During the first months of the pandemic, many produce went to waste because there were no markets to sell them to. Many initiatives by individuals and private groups and NGOs on selling fresh produce surfaced online. Eventually, food producers started to navigate online platforms to sell their produce.

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapt to the “new normal”, which includes having to do things virtually or online.

One of the most popular platforms online for many years now is Facebook. What started as a social networking site targeting the young people has evolved to an indispensable “marketing tool by businesses, government, and all types of organizations, primarily because it has gained popularity among the general population with people from every demographic and the fact that it is free (https://extension.psu.edu/, 2016).

The COVID-19 situation may still keep a majority of the population in lockdown or isolation, however, this does not mean that they are not reachable. Various online platforms can be utilized to reach markets, and agribusinesses can take advantage of these.

Objectives

This webinar aims to:

1. Provide a venue for sharing of good experience and practices of FO’s/cooperatives in marketing farmers’ products through Facebook or other on-line platforms including challenges, investments, learnings and outcomes, and recommendations
2. Help FO’s/Coops develop and design Facebook shops that will help link farmers’ products to buyers and consumers
3. Provide feedback and recommendation to improve the existing FFB Shop

Target Participants

• FOs/Coops/private initiatives who have used Facebook or other social media platforms in marketing and selling farmers’ products
• FOs/Coops who are planning to set up and develop their own Facebook Shops
• Supply and Marketing Staff of FOs/Coops
• Managers and Leaders of FOs and Agri Cooperatives
• Shop administrators of Facebook shops
• Youth leaders of FOs and Agri Coops

Organizers

The webinar is organized by the consortium Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC) through the Asia Pacific Farmers Program (APFP) which is financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Language

This webinar will be in English.

Zoom Registration

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sfu-hrDwoGNWzaTSfoIyUzOtmlixjCZVx

Live streaming

This event will be streamed live through the Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Forum Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AsiaPacificFarmers.

PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES

Overall facilitator: Amir Islam, Operations Manager for South and Central Asia, AFA