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Strengthening Farmer-led and Farmer-owned Marketing Enterprises through Technical Assistance and Learning Exchange. Organic Rice Enterprise of Pecuaria Development Cooperative ( PDCi ) Lanigpa , Bula , Camarines Sur, Philippines. Contents:. Background of the enterprise Assessment
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Strengthening Farmer-led and Farmer-owned Marketing Enterprises through Technical Assistance and Learning Exchange Organic Rice Enterprise of Pecuaria Development Cooperative (PDCi) Lanigpa, Bula, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Contents: • Background of the enterprise • Assessment • Findings • Analysis, conclusion and recommendation • Plan of Interventions • Within the project period (Until May 2014) • Beyond project period • Initial results of Intervention • Feedback on the use of assessment tools (suggestion if any for improvement)
Background of the Enterprise • The Pecuaria Development Cooperative (PDCi) – a cooperative for agrarian reform established in 1991; • Formerly called the People’s Coalition for Unity on Agrarian Reform Integrated Action (PECUARIA); • Its start was marked with risk, disunity and economic instability in a region (Bicol) without modern utilities & with poor supply chain systems; • Formally registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on Sept 30, 1991; • PDCi envisions a progressive and united agrarian reform community with deep respect for ecology & gender equality & governed through participatory & democratic process rooted in positive Filipino values;
Background of the Enterprise • PDCi consists of 426 members (329 male & 97 women) who own the 817 hectares farm land distributed by government (25 has. Residential at 600 sq.m/farmer & 10% for infra) in 1992; • PDCi started to adopt organic agriculture in 1994 through the use of the Masipag technology; • Continued with organic rice farming in 1997 after a series of Farmers’ Field School (FFS) training & same year when PDCistarted to enter into rice trading; • Received certification from the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP) in 2007; and • PDCi businesses include organic rice enterprise, milling & marketing, bio-organic fertilizer production (BOF), organic certification inclusion and organic rice production input loan.
Initial Results of Intervention • In line with the issues related financial reporting and discrepancy in the finances, a re-shuffling of staff was held on April2014. A new staff member was assigned to function as bookkeeper (initially to serve for 3 months and an evaluation be conducted). A professional group has committed to assist the cooperative in establishing effective financial recording/reporting system. • While PDCi has been preparing FS on their own, the leaders indicated the need for an assessment to improve/strengthen their capacity in dealing more enterprises in the future. • During the annual General Assembly (GA) gatherings of PDCi, they were able to review their policies related to their rice enterprise and others (the latest GA was conducted March 2014)
Initial Results of Intervention • The intensive follow-up of members and re-orientation helped in the increase of the commitment to produce more organic rice • The preparation of the case study became a venue for the cooperative to have initial technical guidance on business review including evaluation of their profitability and solvency status (as articulated by some of the BOD) • The design of the capability building of members in response to KSA competencies identified
Feedback on the use of assessment tool • Overall, the AFA assessment tool is comprehensive and can easily be understood so its use for an interview or FGD with targeted groups are easily or smoothly facilitated. • The tool may need to add a section that reflects the contribution or impact of the enterprise to the cooperative. • It may be useful if instructional directions or guide are included as introductory part of each sections and examples be added where appropriate.
