Capacity Development for Farmers of the SDGCoco Project

Context and Project Objective

Although the Philippines is the world’s second-largest producer of coconuts, the smallholder farmers who constitute the majority of the industry often lack solid agricultural knowledge and struggle to earn a profitable livelihood. 

The overall goal of this intervention is to increase farm productivity and promote farm income diversification in Region IV-A and Region V by building the capacity of selected farmers on coconut-vegetable production following sustainable farming methods. Implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) can improve crop productivity and marketability, while applying intercropping with vegetables can diversify farmers’ income for a more stable and sustainable business.

Specifically, the project aims to:

• Improve the technical know-how of farmers for a large-scale rollout of sustainable farming techniques and farming innovations, which contribute to increased resilience for smallholder farmers
• Develop farmers’ business management skills so they can plan effectively and maintain a steady and reliable supply of vegetables with characteristics that meet consumers’ evolving expectations and needs
• Amplify the widespread adoption of Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) among coconut farmers in the selected regions 

Building on previous EWS-KT SDGCoco (Sustainable Development and Good Agricultural Practices in the Philippines Coconut Supply Chain) interventions, this project will achieve its objectives through intensively training selected farmers on coconut-vegetable farming systems, exposing neighboring farmers to these techniques through Farmer Business School (FBS) and training on GAP, and developing market connections between farmers and buyers.

Expected Outcomes 

• 45 key farmers from 3 farmers’ associations trained on sustainable coconut-vegetable farming practices and provided better access to seeds and other farm inputs, improved marketing systems, and horticultural advisory services
• 270 farmers exposed to coconut-based farming systems through FBS-GAP training
• From among the key farmers, para-technicians identified and trained as second-line trainers within each farmers’ association
• A 1,500-square-meter demonstration farm showcasing coconut-vegetable farming systems anchored on GAP
• An increase in the availability of safe, low-residue vegetables for the consuming public
• Market links created between farmers and potential buyers

EWS-KT Partners

Funding partner: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ)

Project Period

26 June 2023 – 31 January 2024

Location

Philippines: Camarines Norte and Quezon provinces