Presentation for YFC performance

Business Plan Title: UF Vanille Spices Farm

YFC Participant: Melvin Awid
Product: Vanilla Cuttings
Vanilla Extract
Vanilla Syrup
Vanilla Pod
Grant Amount Received: PhP 50,000.00 – Provincial Start Up Grant (FY 2022)
PhP 150,000.00 – Regional Start-Up Grant (FY 2022)
PhP 300,000.00-Regional UPSCALE Grant (FY 2023)

PARTICULARS FINDINGS RECOMMENDATIONS/

SUGGESTIONS
Vision

UF Vanilla Farm, a Currently, the enterprise has a 1.Political engagement

component brand of strong partnerships with its
Urban Farms PH, is a stakeholders specifically the Local
social enterprise that Government unit of Maitum and
aims to be the first Provincial Government of
corporate farm among Sarangani.
Young Farmers
Challenge Awardees to Moreover, there is an ongoing
serve as a model proposal in the Sangguniang
enterprise and be an Panlalawigan of Saranggani to
example for the youth recognize and tag the province as
and marginalized sector the “Vanilla Capital of the
about the bounty in Philippines”. Mr. Awid has an
agriculture. ongoing coordination with the
office of former Senator Manny
Pacquiao for this initiative.
can have both positive
and negative
implications for the
enterprise. Therefore,
Mr. Awid shall be
cautious and make sure
that his ongoing political
engagement and
partnerships aligns with
the enterprise core
values and objectives.

Mission

As social enterprise, UF To provide opportunities for 1.Continue to forge

Vanilla Farm will not unemployed persons and partnerships with other
only produce high marginalize farmers within the social enterprises, NGOs,
quality vanilla pods and community, the enterprise government agencies,
will not only grow a employed them as seasonal farm and private sector
harmonious community laborers and staff for processing organizations to
of vanilla growers for vanilla. leverage resources,
the benefit of the food expertise, and networks.
and beverage industry, The enterprise also envisioned to 2. Implement monitoring
fragrance and aroma train coconut and cacao farmers and evaluation
industries, and in Maitum to propogate vanilla mechanisms to track the
pharmaceuticals but orchids as an additional source of social and economic
also for the benefit of income for them. impact of the enterprise.
community to uplift the
standard of life.

Goals

From a small During the conduct of monitoring, To attract investors, it is

enterprise of a far- the undersigned also interviewed recommended that the
flung municipality of Mr. Ramos owner of Thirsty Café enterprise shall have:
Maitum, UF Vanilla and staff from Office of the
Farm aims to establish Municipal Agriculture Office of 1.Create a
its venture as a Maitum. comprehensive business
corporate farm that plan that outlines the
will not only promote It is notable that Mr. Awid has an vision, mission, market
profit for the entity but impeccable commitment not just analysis, competitive
will aggressively only to generate revenue from the landscape, revenue
promote farming to enterprise but also to help the projections, and growth
contribute and achieve community. As Maitum is a 3 rd
strategy.
the Sustainable class municipality, the enterprise
Development Goals in envisioned to increase the 2. Conduct market
our little ways starting production of vanilla that may research to identify
from our community. contribute to the growth of target markets,
Maitum, provide opportunities distribution channels,
In a span of 3 years, the for the marginalized sector, and and competitive
goal is to establish a attract possible investors. positioning.
minimum of 10-
hectare vanilla
plantation thru selling
tissue cultured
planting materials and
the unsold items will
be utilized in
expanding the
plantation and
providing seedlings to
our beneficiaries.

For the 10-year plan,

we have to establish
Sarangani as the
Vanilla Capital of the
 Philippines of which
the commitment and
collaboration with the
Provincial Local
Government Unit has
been initiated through
a resolution declaring
the province as the
Vanilla capital.
Enterprise Operation
Marketing The enterprise only started
processing and selling its
products last January 2023. Since
vanilla is new to the market, it is
noteworthy that there is a high
demand of this commodity
specifically as an additive
flavoring for patisserie sold in
high end-coffee and pastry shop.
Currently, the enterprise has
eleven (11) institutional buyers
such as:
1.IB Company
2.Tagaytay Farm
3.Dean & Deluca Philippines
4.La Filipina Uygongco Group of
Company
5.Torres Foodline
6.Luc Foods
7.Vjandep Venture, Inc.
8.Tosen Food, Inc.
9.Lubang Farms Enterprise
10.Gavin Go
11.VjANDEP Bakeshop
Commissary
Majority of these buyers were
materialized due to DA organized
expo like the Manila Foods and
Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) and
World Food Expo (WOFEX).
Based on the findings,
the following the
recommendations are
the following:
1. Aside from coffee and
pastry shop, the
enterprise may also
engage in retail
partnerships such as
local grocery stores or
pasalubong centers.
2. Since vanilla
production is new to the
Philippines, it will be
strategic if the enterprise
will conduct workshops
or seminars to educate
consumers about vanilla
cultivation, processing,
and its culinary uses.
3. Establish a strong
online presence through
a professional website
and active social media
profiles. Share engaging
content about vanilla,
including recipes, usage
tips, and information
about farming practices.
 In addition, Mr. Awid with the
help of their Municipal and
Provincial Agriculture Office were
also active in promoting the
products and goals of the
enterprise through the use of
social media.

Other marketing channels of the

enterprise include use of website
and e-commerce platform.

For the improvement of the

product packaging, the enterprise
was being assisted by the
Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) Region 12.

Technical The total area of UF Vanille Spices 1.The enterprise shall

(Production/ Farm is 3.5 hectares. The
Processing) enterprise has also a demo farm
in which visitors, buyers, and
other interested customers will
understand and acquire
knowledge on various
agricultural techniques and
technologies in vanilla
production.
To date, the enterprise has 200
Vanilla orhids and 200 cacao
trees.
The enterprise also has an
existing processing facility which
was established through the
start-up provincial and regional
level financial grant.
For the FDA compliance of the
facility, the enterprise already
had a consultation with FDA
Region 12 for proper guidance.
prioritize the FDA
certification and invest
in research and
development to develop
innovative technologies
and practices for vanilla
production, harvesting,
and processing.
2. According to Mr. Awid,
vanilla planifolia is
prone for plant diseases
specifically that these
commodity is not
originated in the
Philippines. Therefore,
the enterprise shall have
pest and disease
management including
cultural, biological, and
chemical control
methods, to minimize
pest damage and disease
outbreaks.

Current Production Cycle (per

year)
 Vanilla Cuttings – 12 cycles
Vanilla Extract – 2 cycles
Vanilla Syrup – 24 cycles
Vanilla Pod – 1 cycle

Last March 21, the enterprise

received PhP. 1,200,000.00 worth
of financial grant from the
Department of Trade and
Industry which will be used to
increase the production and
further improvement of the
processing facility.

Mr. Awid also has a partnership

with the DA- National Urban and
Peri-Urban Program (NUPAP) for
additional grant funding to
improve the enterprise demo
farm.

Organizational Melvin R. Awid 1.Foster a culture of

Management General Manager continuous
improvement by
Two (2) Regular Staff (Farm soliciting feedback from
Worker) employees, buyers,
customers, and
Five (5) on call staff (Processing) stakeholders (OMag and
OPag)

2. Provide training and

development programs
to enhance employee
skills and knowledge.

Financial During the monitoring conducted, 1.Manage financial

the owner is responsible for
documenting everything, from
expenditures to the sales of the
enterprise; however, the record-
keeping is not organized. All the
receipts are neatly stored in a
folder.
resources effectively by
budgeting, forecasting,
and monitoring expenses
and revenues.
2. Implement cost-saving
measures and seek
opportunities for
 Cash on Hand – PhP 30,000 revenue growth through
Cash on Bank – PhP 1,860,000 product diversification
or market expansion.

Sustainability Through a collaboration with the 1.Commit to continuous

Office of the Provincial
Agriculture (OPAG) and the
Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR), UF Vanilla Farm, in close
coordination with the USAID-Safe
Water Team, aims to address the
loss of agroforestry land in
Sarangani, which currently stands
at 6%.
To counteract this loss and
promote sustainable agricultural
practices, UF Vanilla Farm plans
to implement the Sloping
Agricultural Land Technology
(SALT) in the region. SALT
involves planting vanilla on
sloping agricultural lands, which
not only helps in the recovery of
lost agroforestry, but also
provides economic benefits to the
community.
improvement by
monitoring performance
metrics, conducting
regular assessments, and
implementing corrective
actions. Engage in
research and innovation
to identify new
opportunities for
sustainability
enhancement.
2. Implement energy
efficient practices and
technologies in vanilla
processing facilities,
such as solar energy
systems and energy-
efficient equipment.

To facilitate the implementation

of this initiative, the government
sector, represented by OPAG and
DAR, will provide the necessary
planting materials through UF
Vanilla Farm. This includes the
procurement of vanilla seedlings
and madre de cacao seeds.
Training and mentoring
programs will also be conducted
to ensure that the community
members are equipped with the
knowledge and skills required for
successful cultivation.

Requested Interventions Participation for local and The DA-AMAS in

international food exposition to coordination with DA-
 further promote the enterprise
products.
AMADs shall invite UF
Vanilla Farm to its
organized local and
international trade
events to increase the
enterprise market
exposure, networking
opportunities, and brand
visibility, and
recognition.

Prepared by:

JOHN ROMAR A. PEDRIGAL

Market Specialist II