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Entrepreneurship Center for Women in Puerto Rico’s Agriculture: Phases I & II

Entrepreneurship Center for Women in Puerto Rico’s Agriculture: Phases I & II. Gladys M. González Professor Department of Agricultural Economícs and Rural Sociology College of Agricultural Sciences Universidad de Puerto Rico-Mayagüez March 2010.

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Entrepreneurship Center for Women in Puerto Rico’s Agriculture: Phases I & II

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  1. Entrepreneurship Center for Women in Puerto Rico’s Agriculture: Phases I & II Gladys M. González Professor Department of Agricultural Economícs and Rural Sociology College of Agricultural Sciences Universidad de Puerto Rico-Mayagüez March 2010 “This material is based upon work supported by USDA/CSREES under Awards: Number 2004- 49200-03126 (Phase I); Number 2007-49200-03891 (Phase II); Extension Agreement Number 662215 and Number 622244 (Phase III)”

  2. PresentationOutline • The context • The educational initiative: The Past • Phase I : 2007-2008 • Phase II: 2008-2009 • Assessment, Impats, Results • 2009-2010: Phase III: The Present • An uncertain future

  3. The Caribbean Sea and the Antilles Source: Wapedia. http://pic.srv4.wapedia.mobi/thumb/2d4f14059/es/max/720/900/Topographic30deg_N0W60.png?format=jpg,png,gif

  4. The Context

  5. Women’s Participation in Puerto Rico’s Agriculture, 2002 a/. Withheld to avoid disclosing individual data *Source: Vargas Carrasquillo, Ivelisse. La mujer en la agricultura puertorriqueña. 2004. UPR-RUM,. M.S Thesis. en Ag Economics ** Source: USDA, NASS. 2002 Census of Agriculture. Note: The 2007 Census reported 1,408 women operators , 8.9 % of total 15,745 operators. Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (2009) 2007 Census of Agriculture. Puerto Rico. Vol. 1, Geographic Area Series, Part 52. Washington, D.C., February

  6. The Data

  7. Educational Activities, CES, by Programatic Area, by Gender Agriculture, Marketing and Natural Resources Family and Consumer Science Source: Office of Planning and Assessment, CES

  8. Needs Assessment* Conducted during Summer 2006 Mail-in questionnaires Personal follow up by CES Field Agents Total response, n= 80 (30%) * Acknowledgement toMaría del C. Rodríguez, PhD, CES Specialist in Evaluation and Assessment

  9. Challenges Faced by Women in Agriculture, Puerto Rico, 2006 • Marketing farm products, not enough time to conduct the activities due to household responsibilities. • Physical effort is a limiting factor. • Limited incentives and high costs of production. • Feeling of discrimination • Availability of farm labor is limited, not enough. • Availability of agricultural information, data and training, since it is a male dominated field.

  10. The Project

  11. A Pilot Project: Educational Initiative for Women in Puerto Rico’s AgricultureIt all started in the Central Mountain Range at Naranjito Mission: Empower women in Puerto Rico’s agriculture through education to transform them into successful entrepreneurs capable of contributing to economic development of the immediate community and the country.

  12. Press Conference in Naranjito, January 2007

  13. Staff de la Iniciativa de la Mujer con el Rector Women in Agriculture Group 1 with Chancellor Vélez-Arocho, Press Conference, CES Office, Naranjito, Puerto Rico, Jan 2007 Chancellor, Dean, PD, Team of Instructors and Graduate Assitants Group 1 Women in Puerto Rico’s Agriculture

  14. Objectives • At the completion of the basic and advanced course participants should be capable of: • Managing a profitable farm business; • Balancing multiple roles (wife, mother, daughter, business partner, community leader, etc.) and managing stress; • Perceiving themselves as entrepreneurs

  15. Activities • Profile of Participants • Pre-test • Educational Activities: • Women in ag and CES field agents • Basic Course • Advanced Course • Post-test • AES Planning Office • Project Assessment Activities • MS Thesis • Follow Up of Participants

  16. Educational Activities Topics- Basic Course • Agribusiness Management • Agriculture’s Contribution to Puerto Rico’s Economy • Starting a Farm Business • Legal Aspects of the farm business • Agricultural Finance • Agricultural Marketing • Computer Literacy • Risk Management: • Financial Risk • Production Risk- Farm Safety • Women’s Studies • Faces and Voices of Women in Puerto Rico’s Agriculture • Women in Work Force Throughout History • Balancing Life, Work and Family • Family Budget Management

  17. Trainings, Conferences, Presentations Women’s Studies, J. Conde Rural Sociology, J. Martinez, PhD

  18. Agricultural Finance Workshop Graduate Student Assistants L. Mejía

  19. Topics- Advanced Course • Agribusiness Management • Spreadsheet-application for farm accounting, financial planning and risk management • Business Plan • Market Analysis and Marketing Plan • Business Communications, oral and written • Production Risk Management- IPM • Effective verbal and non verbal communication for agribusiness management • More computer uses in agribusiness management: • The business card, web page, social networks and email

  20. Project Team Faculty Family/Consumer ScRural Sociologists Ag Economists Judith Conde José E. Martínez Gladys M. González Carmen O. Gómez Robinson Rodríguez Jorge A. González Sandra Varela Alwin Jiménez Luis R. Mejía Other Madeline Mendoza Noel Torres, Farm Security M. Julio Barragán Hipólito O’Farril- Entomologist Alexandra Gregory Nereida Delgado- Business Comunications Graduate Students WAO Educator Sol Taína Cintrón María Teresa Florez Orisnela Solano Sandra Blas Nicolas Cartagena Graphic Artist Administrative Ivette Fuentes Margarita Olivencia Maritzabel Rivera

  21. The Archipelago of Puerto Rico: Groups of Participants, 2007 a 2010, by location Group 5 Group 4 Group 3 Group 6 Group 2 Group 1 Grupo 1 Group 7 Pilot- Group 1 Phase I- Groups 1 & 2 Summer 2008- Group 3 Phase II- Group 4 & Youth Phase III- Groups 5, 6 y 7

  22. Participants, by phase, group and type • Personnel PRDE- Agricultural Education Teachers (E)- Estimate

  23. Integrated Pest Management, Dr. H. O’Farril

  24. Legal Aspects of the Farm Business, J. A. González, PhD, JD

  25. Participating Organizations • University of Puerto Rico • Mayagüez Campus • College of Agricultural Sciences • CooperativeExtension Service • Four Program Areas • Faculty of Agricultural Sciences • Agricultural Experiment Station • College of Business Administration • Río Piedras Campus

  26. We cannot do it alone • Government Organizations • Women’s Advocate Office • Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture • Agricultural Development Administration • Rural Development Corporation • Agricultural Insurance Corporation • Puerto Rico Department of Education • Municipal Governments

  27. Other participants, cont. • Non Governamental Organizations • Cooperativa A & C Aibonito (credit union) • Incubadora Microempresas Biequé • Alcanzando el Éxito • Financial Institutions • Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico • Puerto Rico Farm Credit, ACA • Fund for Agricultural Development

  28. Some Additional Topics and Activities, Topics: Permit and Environmental Requirements for Establishing a Farm Business by PRDA Women’s/Gender Issues by WAO Legal topics: contracts, succession planning GAP Activities: Visit to UPR-M, CAS and Agricultural Fair 5 Días con Nuestra Tierra Educational activity in Comerío Visit to farm business of • Sara Zapata, Group 2 • Zayda Perez, Youth • Lourdes Oliver, Group 6 Site visit to AES Substation at Corozal MOU between WAO and UPR-M End of Course Ceremony: basic and advanced

  29. Visit to Food Science and Technology Labs at CAS, UPR-M

  30. Women Sharing Experiences at Agricultural Fair Cinco Días con Nuestra Tierra, UPR-M

  31. Signing of MOU Women’s Advocate Office and UPR-M María Dolores Fernós, Esq. Women’s Advocate Dr. Jorge I. Vélez Arocho, UPR-M Chancellor

  32. End of Course Ceremony, Group 1, Comerío, June 2007 Women in Agriculture CES Personnel Panel of Successful Women in Ag Entrepreneurs

  33. Follow –up Educational Activity, Comerío Women in Agriculture Group 1 and CES Personnel

  34. Assessment, measuring results • Pre-test • Post-test • Nominal and Focus Groups • Personal Statements • Other

  35. Assessment Activity- Nominal Groups, Aibonito Dr. M. Rodríguez with Women in Ag, Group 1 Prof. G. Soto with CES Personnel

  36. 2008 Congress for Rural Women Center’s Exhibit Renewal of MOU between UPR-M and WAO; Ms. Marta Mercado, Women’s Advocate and Dr. Vélez-Arocho, UPR-M Chancellor

  37. VIEQUES2008 and 2009 A Special Project

  38. Group 3- Vieques 2008 14 women + 2 men (!) Business Plan Workshop

  39. Vieques continued in 2009* * • Aliance: • UPR y two (2) NGOs Establishment of two (2) teaching centers • CETec I (Alcanzando el Éxito) • CETec II (Incubadora Microempresa Bieke, Inc.) • Opening: June 29, 2009 • Activities: Trainings for women in ag, youth and members of local population: June 29 to July 2, • Activities to be continued * Extension Agreement Number 662215

  40. Vieques 2009 was possible due to leverage of efforts CSREES-USDA in Subcontract with SR-RMEC, TAMU and UPR Donation of twelve (12) PC units by the Department of Agricultural Economics, CAS-UPR, technical support of the ITC- CES and UPR-M Chancellor’s approval Two local NGOs

  41. Special thanks to Vieques Incubadora Microempresa Bieke, Inc. Nilda Medina, Executive Administrator Armando Torres, President Alcanzando el Éxito Carmen Portela-Weir, Director

  42. CETec I- Alcanzando el éxito Opening- Dr. G. González (Entrepreneurship Center), Sra. C. Portela Weir (Directora Alcanzando el éxito), Dr. J. Fernández (Dean CCA), City major’s Rep and Chancellor Dr. J. I. Vélez Arocho Opening CETec II- Incubadora Microempresas Bieke, Inc. NGO representative, Chancellor Dr. Vélez Arocho, Dean Fernández and Prof. A. Ramírez, CES Associate Dean

  43. Phase II: The Future is Now • Young AgrEntrereneurs • Training the Trainers (Aug 2008- Jan 2009) • October 2008: Three days in Escuela Residencial de Adjuntas (PRDE facilities) • Preparation of material for youth (13-17 years old) • The plan: 1 mentor: 1- future entrepreneur • The reality: ____ • Field visit to UPR-Mayaguez and an agribusiness • March 2009 • Three day Camp to present the agribusiness project/plan • June 16- 18 de junio 2009 • CABA, Aguadilla (PRDE facilities)

  44. Training the Trainers Escuela Residencial de Adjuntas Field Trip to UPR-M Dean Fernandez talks to 4-H and FFA Participants of the project

  45. Young Entrepreneurs Camp, CABA, June 16 - 18 de junio, 2009

  46. Young entrepreneurs • Trainers: 13 AES Field Agronomists 7 PRDE Vocational Ag/AgScience Teachers 6 • Youth: 24 • 4-H • FFA

  47. Special thanks to collaborators Agroempresaria Carmen Rullán Agroempresaria Zayda Pérez Agroempresaria Josefina Pagán Agrónoma Loraine de La Cruz

  48. Impacts and Results Persons Trained

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