Banana Farming Plants Hope of Progress in Veruela

Having no signal and distant from industrial developments, residents of Brgy. Sta Emilia, Veruela, Agusan
del Sur almost lost hopes in improving their lives by selling the only common commodity in the
community, the bananas.

However, when the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in
Caraga intervened in 2018, it restored the farmers lost confidence and shed light on the community.

Improving Banana Industry

The Kinabugawan Farmers Producers Cooperative (KIFAPCO) is one of the Proponent Groups of the I-
REAP or Enterprise Component of PRDP. The 9-year-old coop started from 25 members and struggled to
establish their coop since it’s in a remote area.

According to Maricel Bautista, KIFAPCO Secretary and a banana farmer, aside from the problems in the
field, selling bananas has been unlucrative since many times buyers reject their products.

Members were also lost in the marketing operations of the coop, unaware of the financial process and
management.

In 2018, PRDP funded KIFAPCO with P928,000 for the two interventions: the establishment of a 2-
hectare (ha) Lakatan plantation as an expansion to the existing 13-ha Lakatan area of KIFAPCO and a
provision for the buying station, weighing scale, and operational fund for its banana production and
trading business.

The project allowed KIFAPCO to expand its economic activities on buying and selling bananas thereby
generating income for the coop. On top of the income from their Lakatan production, a P0.25/kg is
added to their coop.

Further, the microenterprise members and banana growers are guaranteed a sure market for their
produce since KIFAPCO consolidates and sells it to their contracted buyer. Likewise, farmers get a fair
market price, increasing their income up to 5%.

For three years, PRDP provided training to the coop such as Enterprise Operations and Manual, Simple
Bookkeeping, and Capability Development Planning. This engaged them in properly managing the coop’s
finances and operations.

“These training helped us how to manage the coop’s money, how much it should profit and the annual
patronage refund of the beneficiaries. We learned how to manage a business,” blurted Bautista.

Gabato also emphasized that the training opened their eyes to how credit and debit work.

“We thought before that credit is loan and debit is just arguing during a session. Then PRDP taught us
that it’s different in the financial aspect. Credit is income and debit is expenses. Now we can itemize our
operations and regulate our financial record and that’s very important in a cooperative,” Gabato said.
Empowered banana farmers

All the interventions of PRDP gave strength to KIFAPCO. They expanded their plantation area from the
original 2-ha plantation to 5-ha. The coop also accumulated assets worth P3M.

Banana farmers were empowered to expand their area and immerse themselves in business.

“My banana area was just 1-ha before. With PRDP’s training on proper planting, I was encouraged to
expand my plantation to 7-ha. My income increased from P10,000 to P30,000 per month depending on
the market price. Residents here have been buying cars already since their monthly income is
guaranteed and has a huge increase. PRPD helped us a lot,” Bautista said.

Further, even during the pandemic, KIFAPCO had no issues in selling their products since their
contracted buyer could freely come to their coop and buy their bananas.

Banana farmers meet World Bank

With the banana farmers’ hard work and PRDP’s interventions, KIFAPCO has grown to be a booming
enterprise. This gave them the ticket to represent PRDP Caraga’s I-REAP to the World Bank Mission
consultation and dialogue.

Chairman Gabato addressed the question from the world bank consultant Agnes Deshormes on how
they foresee the coop’s growth.

“We envision to strengthen KIFAPCO's marketing strategies which will also improve the lives of the
banana farmers. In business marketing, we encourage the members to sell their bananas to us so that
our income will increase. In every purchase, P0.25 goes to our coop. The amount will surely increase and
we can use this to improve the coop and help our banana farmers,” he said.

Gabato added that despite the many negativities brought by the pandemic, it became an advantage to
them.

"During the height of the pandemic when the lockdown was implemented, residents concentrated in
farming specifically banana since it is the notable commodity here. Most untilled lands were now
planted and this increased banana production," Gabato disclosed.

KIFAPCO and other PGs from Visayas and Mindanao were lauded by the World Bank consultants
including Eli Weiss, Maria Theresa Quinones, Tim Hancock, and Agnes Deshormes for their hard work
despite the calamities and crisis they have encountered along the way. (Zenny Awing/DA-PRDP13)
SIX PRDP PROPOSALS AMOUNTING TO P415.185M ADVANCE TO THE PRIORITIZATION RUN

A glimmer of hope shines in the local government units (LGU) of Caraga after the Regional Project
Advisory Board (RPAB) approved the endorsement of the six additional subprojects for the prioritization
run under the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project Additional Financing (DA-PRDP-AF).

After the presentation of documents proving that the projects were suitable and essential in the area,
the LGUs of Tago, San Agustin, and Cantilan Surigao del Sur, Bayugan City, PLGU Agusan del Sur, and
Placer, Surigao del Norte, received a resounding YES from members of the RPAB.

LGU Tago proposed the concreting of Kinabigtasan-Lindoy FMR with Bridge amounting to P184M. This
would benefit 9,142 residents including 308 IPs who farm rice, coconut, corn, soybeans, and abaca.

For LGU San Agustin, the proposed Construction of Buhisan-Manumnum FMR amounting to P84M will
be the lone road in the area of Buatong and Buhisan. The 3,226 residents who primarily farm rice,
lanzones, abaca, banana, and root crops will generally benefit from the said project. If realized, the
project would reduce hauling costs, save travel time, and increase the traffic rate in the area.

Likewise, the concreting of Mahapag-Bucac-Marcelina FMR proposed by the Province of Agusan del Sur
having a 4.79km distance worth P60M will cover a 2,712-hectare influence area. The road will make life
easier for rubber, rice, coconut, and banana farmers since the FMR will reduce 10% transportation cost
and 50% travel time.

From land to sea, Placer, SDN advocates the establishment of the 30 Ton Ice plant with an Ice Storage
Facility amounting to P58.4 to support their Tuna industry. The LGU ranks 1st in the landing sites of tuna
with an annual production estimate of 10,116.43mt. Such produce made a high demand to process and
commercialize their tuna. With this, the P30M worth additional ice plant would help them in Tuna
preservation.

A fishery proposal is also proposed by Cantilan with the construction of the three units of Watch Tower
costing P17M. The alarming overfishing and climate change issues pushed the LGU to come up with the
project. Cantilan also envisioned alleviating and improve the average living condition of the fisherfolk-
beneficiaries by encouraging sustainable fishing. It would then benefit 1,380 fisherfolks.

Lastly, Barangay Tinago of Cantilan raised that the water system in the community should be improved
since it can only serve 7 households out of the 243 homes. Moreover, this would help uplift the lifestyle
of the predominant coconut farmers in the community. The water system amounts to P9M.

Careful deliberation

Members of the RPAB, namely: the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Regional
Agricultural and Fishery Council, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agrarian Reform,
Department of Public Works and Highways, Mindanao Development Authority, National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Department of the Interior and
Local Government deliberately clarified the intentions and importance of the proposals to the
community.

Despite the intense deliberations, the RPAB chaired by DA Regional Executive Director Abel James I.
Monteagudo signed the resolutions approving the subprojects under the Intensified Building-Up of
Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-BUILD) component for endorsement to the DA-PRDP
National Project Coordination Office for further evaluation. If approved, the subprojects will receive a
No Objection Letter 1 (NOL1) which would indicate that the project has been funded and should
proceed to the implementation of the subproject. (Zenny G. Awing / DA-PRPD13)

Completed Irrigation for ADS farmers washes away ‘failure’

No more cropping failure in the barangays of Agusan del Sur following the back-to-back turn-over of the
Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) in Rosario and San Luis.

Funded by the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Project, the 2.71km main
canal, lateral and structures of Laminga in San Luis, and 4.76km main canal with structures in
Limbatangan, Rosario is perceived to maximize cropping potential and ease farming operations.

"This irrigation is very critical in rice cropping. Here in Rosario before, harvest has always been a failure
due to the lack of a good water source. Now, as this project has come to life, surely yield will increase so
with the farmers' income," Rex S. Fuentes, Rosario Sangguniang Bayan member.

The 2.71 km Laminga CIS intends to cover 136-ha of rice fields with 703 household beneficiaries in
barangays Alejandro, Baylo, Dona Flavia, and Poblacion. This is in addition to the 10 ha existing
conventional rice area and will help increase the rice production from 2.2 MT/ha to 4 MT. A 29.22%
increment in palay production is expected with the CIS.

Limbatangan's 4.76 CIS targets 264 ha rice area in the barangays of Libuac, Poblacion, and Tagbayan,
Rosario having 1,623 household beneficiaries. This will increase rice production from 3.0 MT/ha to 4.0
MT/ha for conventional rice and 3.0 MT/ha to 3.6 MT/ha for organic rice.

Officials and farmers in Rosario and San Luis expressed their gratitude towards the implementors of the
irrigation, promising to unceasingly support government interventions.

"Our hearts are filled with joy with the completion of this irrigation. This will make our lives easier. This
just proves that the government is listening to our sentiments," declared Jeffrey Manlapas, Laminga
Irrigators Association member.

"Even if our generation ends, but as long as farming is alive, this fountain of life will always be here
because of you. Rest assured that we will continuously support and help the government by maintaining
this irrigation up to the next generations," guaranteed Federico S. Guerrero, Jr, Limbatangan Farmers
Irrigators Association President.

Moreover, DA Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo reminded the residents that the
government has been heeding the call of its people. Despite the threats of the pandemic, officials adapt
to the new normal ensuring that programs reached their intended beneficiaries.

"The government's eyes and ears are open for the people, making sure that we reach the places that are
badly in need. Instead of complaining, let's put our trust and hope to the government offices by opening
up our suggestions to where do further interventions should take place," Monteagudo encouraged.
The CIS amounting to P21million for Laminga and P50million for Limbatangan would not be possible
without the 10% counterpart from the local government unit of the beneficiary barangays. This is
required by the DA-PRDP along with the 10% counterpart from the Philippine government and 80% from
the world bank.

Furthermore, the Laminga canal was turned over to the Laminga Irrigator's Association along with the
Limbatangan canal to the Limbatangan Farmers Irrigators Association.

The office of the mayor, Sangguniang Bayan members, and officials from the local government units of
Limbatangan and Lamina, and the DA-PRDP staff witnessed the ribbon cutting and turn-over ceremony.
(Zenny G. Awing / DA-PRPD13)

DA-PRDP guarantees A&M cassava farmers sales through a marketing agreement

To assure the establishment of a cassava market, the Department of Agriculture-Caraga (DA) through
the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) updated the marketing agreement between the A&M
Multi-purpose cooperative (A&M) in Dinagat Islands and Fatima Multi-purpose Cooperative (FMPC) in
Leyte. 

The marketing agreement crafted during the DA-PRDP planning stated that A&M can potentially supply
cassava granules to FMPC. Subsequently, as A&M reached FMPC’s proposed cassava volume, DA-PRDP
intervenes to finalize the documents.

A visit by the Investment in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) or
Enterprise Component in FMPC on April 6-8 at Region-8 ensured that the marketing agreement will then
be signed to proceed with the delivery of A&M’s produce. 

The DA-PRDP inculcates the importance of forging a formal marketing agreement where both parties
remain grounded and protected. This provides in-depth detail of the product’s volume, quality, and
delivery frequency. 

The marketing agreement guarantees A&M’s produce will be purchased and FMPC will get the required
volume of cassava granules. 

“Cassava is not only a staple food but a primary commodity. We in DA-PRDP are like supporting actors
for the success of this project. With this, we make sure to establish a market for the produce of the
A&M to make it profitable,” Lynn A. Pareñas, DA-Caraga PRDP I-REAP Component Head said.

Furthermore, the signed document is one way of educating the farmers to exercise their rights and
authority especially when it comes to bulk orders.

“During investment forums, we bring in personnel from the industry itself including San Miguel Foods,
Inc. (SMFI). Through this, they will have a picture of the coops’ needs. These forums built a close
partnership with the SMFI which also allowed us to connect to FMPC, one of their cassava granules
suppliers,” she added.
A&M cooperative agreed to supply 10 metric tons or 10,000 kilograms of cassava granules per month
with a buying price of P11/kg to FMPC. This will then be delivered by FMPC to SMFI to be processed as
feeds.

“I-REAP assures that cassava granules consolidation and marketing are viable considering the market.
Even if the project reaches its term, the enterprise can continue, and support from DA will always be
there,” Pareñas guaranteed. 

Moreover, I-REAP plans to organize a field visit for the staff of A&M to the facilities of FMC to expose
them to the coop’s process and give them a hands-on experience of the machines used. Also, a prospect
production training which will be funded by I-REAP in partnership with FMC will happen in Dinagat
Islands for the cassava farmers of A&M. 

“For now, as the project progress, we also continue the capability building, institutional development,
and other related engagements with A&M,” Pareñas asserted. 

The MOA that will be signed in May serves as the go signal for the maiden voyage of A&M’s high-quality
cassava granules. This will be tentatively transported to Matalom Leyte, then directly delivered to SMFI
BMEG Plant in Ormoc City. (Zenny G. Awing / DA-PRPD13)

Higaonons’ yes pushes green coffee bean facility construction

The smell of fresh coffee beans is in the air in Caraga as the construction of the Green Coffee Bean
Processing Facility in Casiklan, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte is bound to start. All thanks to the approval
of the Higaonon tribe during the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FCIP) meeting facilitated by the
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on April 21.

Represented by three Indigenous Peoples, namely: Melinda P. Masiste, Beniales B. Dominador, and
Antonio T. Manlipayan Jr., the signed MOA signified a green light to issue the Certificate of Precondition,
a document certifying the building of a facility to be issued by the Provincial Government Unit. This will
be given to the Casiklan Wheels Farmers Association Inc. (CAWFAI), the intended beneficiary of the
project funded by the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project. 

“The DA and the government are here to build a coffee processing plant that will soon be turned over to
CAWFAI. Let’s set our mind that this will benefit not only the CAWFAI but also the IPs here in Casiklan,”
assured Atty. Siegfried A. Auza, NCIP Provincial Legal Officer.

Since a portion of the ancestral domain will be used for the infrastructure, a documented consent is
needed from the affected party through a signed MOA. 

“The process that we are doing is part of the agreement. This will allow or nullify the construction of the
facility based on your decision,” emphasized Andrew M. Salas, NCIP Bueneascar, Acting Community
Development Officer. 

The IPs agreed to the provisions stating the acceptance and approval of building a processing center
worth P19 million. This will further boost the barangay’s coffee enterprise and increase farmers’ income.
Moreover, the MOA stipulates that three signatories will represent the Higaonons in Casiklan, making
them responsible for the agreement.

However, it was made clear that the rights given to the signatories are limited only to the present
agreement. Another FPIC meeting will commence before the operation kicks off to tackle the terms and
conditions of the enterprise and royalty of the Higaonon. The signed MOA will be forwarded to the
province then to the region for the issuance of the Pre-Condition Certificate.

Enterprise component head Lynn A. Pareñas witnessed the signing of MOA together with NCIP's
Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Siegfried A. Auza.

Higaonon voices heard

Furthermore, the FCIP served as an avenue to hear the voices of the IPs and clarify their concerns. 

Tribal leader Datu Beniales B. Duminda encouraged his constituents to unify their answer and say yes to
the building facility. He believes the project will benefit all the residents of Casiklan including the IPs
since the majority are coffee farmers.

"This will surely pour overflowing opportunities to the tribe and will inspire those who quitted coffee
farming to get back to business,” Datu Duminda exulted.

According to the 10-year coffee farmer, the 100x100m production area sums to P3000 input only. This
earns them P7000 per harvest, which lasts for six months. With the processing center, Datu Duminda
believes both coffee production and income will increase. 

Additionally, some IPs expressed their gratitude for including them in the whole process.

“We are pleased that they made sure to consult us for the construction of this project. We feel that our
tribe has been significant to its realization,” Bae Thelma C. Makaundag expressed.

DA’s continuing support to CAWFAI

In 2020 CAWFAI received a Multi-Purpose Drying Pavement, Multi-Commodity Solar Tunnel Dryer,
coffee roaster, grinder, sprayer, hand tractor, grass cutter, and pole pruner from the DA High-Value
Commercial Crops Program. This encouraged residents in Casiklan to venture into coffee farming and
join the association making it grow from 15 members to 293. With the continued support of the
government, CAWFAI is seen to help empower the livelihood in the area. (Zenny G. Awing / DA-PRPD13)