www.acdivoca.org

87 East DBP Village, Ma-a, Davao City

Ph. (82) 298-6250

Farmers Field School (FFS):

Developing Next Generation of Cocoa Farmers

Janoz Xn Yesu S. Laquihon

Training & Extension Coordinator/Communications Unit Coordinator

ACDI/VOCA

OUTLINE

1. Overview: CoCoPal Project

2. The CBAM Model

3. Farmers Field School: CEG managed

4. Conclusion

CoCoPal:

• CoCoPal = Cocoa, Coconut and Palayamanan.

• Palayamanan concept “rice-based diversified farming” (developed by PhilRice)

• CoCoPal targets: Improve the income and food security of 25,000 farmers through integrated farming system connected by “value chain approach”

• Target to improve the “post-harvest processing facilities, practices and standards for cacao, coconut and rice.

• This will strengthen the “value chains” especially the “role” of small holder farmers.

Sustainable Food Production

and Sustainable Livelihoods for

smallholder farmers : CoCoPAL

Major features of the CoCoPal Program

• Industries of: Cocoa, Coconut and Rice Sectors

• Other Industries: fruits, vegetables animals/fish as

part of Integrated farming systems

• Total Direct Beneficiaries of the program: 25,000

• Total Indirect Beneficiaries of the program: 125,000

• Started: December 2009

• Anticipated Project completion date: June 2013

75 Village

Technology and

Extension Farms,

VTEFs Palayamanan farming

systems based mainly on

cocoa, coconut , rice fruit

trees, vegies, are

established and validated

The CoCoPal project will support extension and training in Palayamanan practices and systems that lead to

enhanced farm productivity, post-harvest processing, and market development of rice, coconut and cocoa

enterprises of smallholder farmers. A network of strategically located demo farms will be developed to

demonstrate, validate and extend to farmers the appropriate Palayamanan systems adapted to the different

regions and ecological zones in Mindanao.

A1

Training & Extension

62 CEFs + 340 CFLs

to train

25,000 Farmers in Farmer

Field Schools

A2

150 POST HARVEST

FACILITIES:

boost accessibility and

productivity of post harvest

processing of rice, coconut

and cocoa products

A3

300 MICRO ENTERPRISES SUPPORTED

for enhanced availability and reduced

cost of improved rice, coconut, cocoa

and other plant materials

A4

300 MICRO ENTERPRISES SUPPORTED

Development and extension of

organic based fertiliser and

pesticides inputs for Palayamanan

farming systems

A5

Value Chain Growth, smallholder

empowerment, business development

A6

Economic Advancement & Resource Network (EARN)

We work across the value chain:

from farm to Van

Constraints not addressed lead to bottlenecks

and mis-trust

Private and Public partnerships:

MARS, WCF, PhilRice, CIDAMi, FEDCO,

PASCFO, APEX, CSI, etc.

Facilitation of market linkages

Slide from Royal Tropical Institute,

Netherlands

Farmer Field Schools, demo farms, farmer to farmer

mechanisms, on farm R&D as extension methods

The CoCoPal Training & Extension

• Training & Extension = 1 of the 6 main

activities CoCoPal Program

• Target: 25,000 farmers trained

• Approach: FFS using CBAM

• CEG: 1 CEF + 6 CFLs

• Provide ToT, IST, Field Coaching

• Provide assistance in the conduct of FFS

• Provide Learning Materials and Guides

The CoCoPal Training & Extension

• CEF – manages the CEG (Technicians)

• CFL – Facilitates the conduct of FFS (Farmers)

• Volunteers

• Farmer to Farmer

• Develops & Manages their own Learning

Sites using Farm Planning as a tool

CoCoPal Barangay AgriBusiness Model

(CBAM)

VILLAGE COMMUNITY

MODEL 3:

TRADERS SCHOOLS

NON-COCOPAL FARMERS

RAISE AWARENESS

VTEF SITES SCHOOL

CURRICULUM

JR / YOUTH

FFS

AGRI

ENTERPRISE

Out of School /

Unemployed

Possible new

FFS group Cluster of Farmers

Farmer Groups/Asso

Producers

Input Supply

Services

Plant

Domestic Export

Micro-Finance

&

Agri-Credit

• Institution

• Contract growing

• BNPL

• Private Enterprise

• Traders & Input Suppliers

MODEL 2:

Business Planning

Financial Planning

Market Planning

CoCoPal Barangays Agri-Business Model (CBAM)

Facilitate &

Support

VTEF

CLINICS

T&E R&D on Farm PHF

OIF PMF

FARM SYSTEMS

CEF CFL6

CFL1 CFL2

CFL4 CFL5

CFL3

Learning Site1

Learning Site2

Learning Site3

Learning Site6

Learning Site5

Learning Site4

VTEF MGT

TRAINING/FFS

FIELD DAYS

CLINICS

FARM VISIT

FFS X 3

CoCoPal Curriculum

MODEL 1:

CoCoPal Extension Group (CEG)

Sell of inputs

Seeds/seedlings

By-products

LGU

Market Orientation

Finance Education

EARN

CoCoPal Farmers Field School (FFS)

CoCoPal believes that FFS…

a participatory training

approach (extension tool and a

form of adult education)

Farmer-driven: ideal for

large numbers of

smallholder farmers

is focused on building farmers’

capacity on decision- making

How? increased knowledge and

understanding of the agro-

ecosystem

Farmer-participants make regular

field using

VORAD

CoCoPal believes that FFS…

25-30 farmers per

group

50 farmers per CFL

300 farmers per CEF

meets regularly

Is guided by a

trained facilitator

CoCoPal FFS has …

Basis of Training for CoCoPal

WHOLE FARM PLANNING

Training Approach (4 As)

• Activity – used as an ice breaker/introductory

activity related to the topic / goal or expectation setting

• Analysis – analyze the activity conducted, leveling

of knowledge and expectation

• Abstraction – Proper lecture/ theoretical input

• Application – Hands-on / Practicum / Application

of knowledge and skills / Learning by doing

COCOPAL CHECK SYSTEM: SESSION GUIDE FOR CFLS IN THE CONDUCT OF FFS CLASSES SESSION STEP TOPIC DURATION KEY CHECKS

0 Entry plan / Orientation of

CoCoPal Project @ Brgy level Officials

1 month

• FFS area prepared / LS prepared based on the CFLs training plan • List of possible farmer enrollees obtained

1 1 Step 1. Orientation of CoCoPal

Program 4 hours

KeyCheck 1: • TPR 1, TPR2 and Master list completed, • Course outline/ Training Plan discussed, • Scheduled training dates, • Farmers grouped / Interim Officers organized, • Expectations leveled off, House Rules (No. of hours, etc) formulated; • FFS Budget discussed; • FAQs on CoCoPal answered; • Letter of Support from BLGU/ Certification from LGU signed.

2 2 Step 2. Farmers Vision, Goals &

Objectives 4 hours

KeyCheck 2: • Written farmers VGO, Farm locator map, Farm Resource Map achieved

SAMPLE TIME SCHEDULE of COCOPAL FFS CLASS

Oras Activity Objective R. Person

8:00-8:15 Roll Call /

Attendance

/Recap

Paghibalo kinsa ang present ug pag

“remind” unsay nahitabo sa niaging FFS

Host Teams

8:15-9:00 Reporting matag

pungpong /

VORAD

Para mahibalo unsay sitwasyon sa matag

uma

CFL /

Mag-uuma

9:00-9:15 Group Dynamics

/ Activity &

Analysis

• Pagpalagsik sa grupo,

• Pag-hatag ug ideya sa sunod nga

topiko

• Pagsubay kung unsa pay wala nahibal-i

sa partisipante

CFL /

Mag-uuma /

Host Team

9:15- 10:30 Topic

(Abstraction)

Pag hatag sa kahibalo / lecture CFL / CEF /

Speaker

10:30-11:30 Practicum

(Application)

Pag-apply sa nahibal-an diha sa imong

uma

Mag-uuma /

CFL / CEF /

Speaker

11:30-11:40 Review Pag-review sa natun-an / pagtubag sa

mga pangutana

CFL

11:40-11:45 Roll Call /

Attendance /

Announcement

Aron pag sayod kinsay “late comer” o

absent

Host Teams

EXT. MATERIALS DEV. BY ACDI/VOCA

EXT. MATERIALS DEV. BY ACDI/VOCA

EXT. MATERIALS PLANS

FOR 2013 ACDI/VOCA

CoCoPal Multimedia (pending approval)

• CoCoPal SCHOOL ON THE AIR (CSOAP)

• CoCoPal SMS Information Center (CSIC)

• NEWSLETTERS

• AVP

CONCLUSION

ACDI/VOCA empowering

people & businesses

succeed in the

global economy

CONCLUSION

Through the ACDI/VOCA’s

CoCoPal Farming Systems project …

I personally believe It can help

Develop next generation of

Cocoa Farmers here in Mindanao.

CONCLUSION

Farmers…

Volunteers…

that are

empowered to

succeed in

global

economy.