Linking Farmers to Markets Through Cooperatives Vegetables Supply Chain Redesign Options for Kapatagan, Mindanao, Philippines

The paper looks into the temperate vegetable industry in Kapatagan, an upland community in Mindanao, the Southern part of the Philippines. The intention in general is to identify ways by which smallholder vegetable producers are appropriately linked to markets through cooperatives with the end in view of increasing farmers’ income. Specifically the paper documented existing vegetable supply chains in Kapatagan as well as other relevant chains, assessed the various chains’ gaps and potentials in view of changing concepts and market requirements with supply chain and agro-industrial concepts as bases and identified entry points for chain enhancements.Farm Management, Production Economics,

Participatory Agricultural Chain Assessment (PACA): An Approach to Sustainable Agricultural Chain Development (SACD)—The Case of VECO Indonesia

For an organization that has been promoting sustainable agriculture development for some time, Vredeseilanden is not unaccustomed to seeing smallholder farmers struggle to secure markets and attain higher prices. The biggest stumbling blocks, as identified by the Belgium-based NGO, are the  farmers’ lack of access to markets, insufficient market information, the inability to meet the product quality required by markets, and limited access to resources (natural, technical, and financial). Cognizant of these problems, Vredeseilanden has modified its approach to assisting smallholder farmers within the context of sustainable agricultural chain development (SACD). SACD is seen by the organization as a means to facilitate greater market access for smallholder farmers. While being part of an ordinary supply chain provides the farmer with a link to market, being part of a sustainable supply chain provides him with an opportunity to participate in the decisions that shape the standards and quality enhancements the chain will deliver to end customers and to secure a more equitable share of the value added commensurate with effort. In its Asian operations, SACD is pursued through participatory agricultural chain assessment (PACA), an approach developed and field-tested by VECO Indonesia. PACA is comprised of three major subcomponents: (1) situation analysis; (2) intervention identification, which may be done by undertaking either participatory research for development (PRD) or multi-stakeholder dialogues (MSD) or both; and (3) chain intervention and planning. As an approach to sustainable agricultural development, PACA considers the level of need within the assisted communities/NGOs and the level of activity contributions each stakeholder is willing to contribute, making the resultant action plan more realistic and achievable

Rapid Appraisal of the Postharvest Facilities Projects in the Philippines

The Philippine government's postharvest loss reduction programs entail significant investments (manpower, facilities, and equipment) and their impacts need evaluating. Thus, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the National Economic and Development Authority commissioned NEXUS Agribusiness Solutions to undertake the "Rapid Appraisal of Selected Postharvest Facilities in the Philippines".The postharvest facilities (PHF) selection process considered at least one each for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and for the following PHF categories: 1. equipment and facilities required immediately after harvest; 2. processing and storage facilities; and 3. market infrastructure and transport facilities. Selected were four rice processing centers, established through a Korean International Cooperation Agency grant, in Pangasinan, Davao del Sur, Bohol, and Iloilo. Using these sites as hub, other nearby PHF such as food terminals, flatbed dryers, and threshers were included for evaluation.In the context of upgrading value chains, reducing postharvest losses and improving economic outcomes for smallholder farmers, selected PHF were characterized and assessed. Recommendations centered on project management enhancement (timeliness of preparatory activities, participatory planning, etc.) and on operational improvements (capacity utilization, viability, and sustainability)

Economic and environmental impacts of using treated distillery slops for irrigation of sugarcane fields

This report provides information on the use of wastes from sugarcane distillation as a resource for improving agricultural productivity. It analyzes various treatment options to find out which brings the most economic, environmental and social benefits to the industry, agriculture and the environment. It finds that when the waste slops are treated optimally, they can be an effective fertilizer and irrigation resource with minimal pollution impact. This not only benefits farmers by increasing yields, but removes a heavy financial burden from the sugarcane processing companies in the form of pollution cleanup costs or fines. The report recommends that the government support this innovative way of reducing pollution

Participatory Agricultural Chain Assessment (PACA): An Approach to Sustainable Agricultural Chain Development (SACD)—Th e Case of VECO Indonesia

For an organization that has been promoting sustainable agriculture development for some time, Vredeseilanden is not unaccustomed to seeing smallholder farmers struggle to secure markets and attain higher prices. The biggest stumbling blocks, as identified by the Belgium-based NGO, are the farmers’ lack of access to markets, insufficient market information, the inability to meet the product quality required by markets, and limited access to resources (natural, technical, and financial). Cognizant of these problems, Vredeseilanden has modified its approach to assisting smallholder farmers within the context of sustainable agricultural chain development (SACD). SACD is seen by the organization as a means to facilitate greater market access for smallholder farmers. While being part of an ordinary supply chain provides the farmer with a link to market, being part of a sustainable supply chain provides him with an opportunity to participate in the decisions that shape the standards and quality enhancements the chain will deliver to end customers and to secure a more equitable share of the value added commensurate with effort. In its Asian operations, SACD is pursued through participatory agricultural chain assessment (PACA), an approach developed and field-tested by VECO Indonesia. PACA is comprised of three major subcomponents: (1) situation analysis; (2) intervention identification, which may be done by undertaking either participatory research for development (PRD) or multi-stakeholder dialogues (MSD) or both; and (3) chain intervention and planning. As an approach to sustainable agricultural development, PACA considers the level of need within the assisted communities/NGOs and the level of activity contributions each stakeholder is willing to contribute, making the resultant action plan more realistic and achievable

Linking Farmers to Markets Through Cooperatives Vegetables Supply Chain Redesign Options for Kapatagan, Mindanao, Philippines

The paper looks into the temperate vegetable industry in Kapatagan, an upland community in Mindanao, the Southern part of the Philippines. The intention in general is to identify ways by which smallholder vegetable producers are appropriately linked to markets through cooperatives with the end in view of increasing farmers’ income. Specifically the paper documented existing vegetable supply chains in Kapatagan as well as other relevant chains, assessed the various chains’ gaps and potentials in view of changing concepts and market requirements with supply chain and agro-industrial concepts as bases and identified entry points for chain enhancements

Linking Farmers to Markets Through Cooperatives Vegetables Supply Chain Redesign Options for Kapatagan, Mindanao, Philippines

The paper looks into the temperate vegetable industry in Kapatagan, an upland community in Mindanao, the Southern part of the Philippines. The intention in general is to identify ways by which smallholder vegetable producers are appropriately linked to markets through cooperatives with the end in view of increasing farmers’ income. Specifically the paper documented existing vegetable supply chains in Kapatagan as well as other relevant chains, assessed the various chains’ gaps and potentials in view of changing concepts and market requirements with supply chain and agro-industrial concepts as bases and identified entry points for chain enhancements.Production Economics,

Economic and Environmental Impacts of Using Treated Distillery Slops for Irrigation of Sugarcane Fields

This study provides information on the use of wastes from sugarcane distillation as a resource for improving agricultural productivity. It analyzes various treatment options to find out which brings the most economic, environmental and social benefits to the industry, agriculture and the environment. It finds that when the waste slops are treated optimally, they can be an effective fertilizer and irrigation resource with minimal pollution impact. This not only benefits farmers by increasing yields, but removes a heavy financial burden from the sugarcane processing companies in the form of pollution cleanup costs or fines. The report recommends that the government support this innovative way of reducing pollution.irrigation, Philippines

Benefits from Byproducts: Recycling Distillery Wastes for Sugarcane Production

As Southeast Asia industrializes, the need for innovative ways to get rid of waste has increased. A new report from the Philippines shows how a factory waste that been polluting the country's rivers can be turned into a valuable resource that can help farmers improve their productivity. The study investigated various treatment and disposal options for the slops that are produced during the distillation of sugarcane. This study found that when the slops are treated optimally they can be used as an effective fertilizer and irrigation resource. This not only benefits farmers by increasing yields, but also removes a heavy financial burden from the sugar cane processing companies in terms of pollution cleanup costs and fines.sugarcane, Philippines

Scoping study on reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens in the Philippine food manufacturing industry

The food manufacturing industry (FMI) is a major contributor to the country's total manufacturing output. However, despite the industry's performance in terms of job creation and income generation, it is constrained by existing regulatory procedures and processes. A scoping study assessing the Philippine FMI subsectors and the regulatory system governing it is reported here. Specifically, this study aims to map out the existing regulatory procedures and processes in the sector, determine key bottlenecks in the regulatory process chain, and prepare an estimation of the regulatory burden of the bottlenecks. Literature review and consultations were conducted for various food manufacturing subsectors (FMS) and concerned government agencies. This scoping study reveals that regulatory bottlenecks are related to four major concerns, namely, (1) organizational matters, which are related to both administrative and human resource requirements of Food Safety Regulatory Agencies; 2) regulation, which refers to compliance requirements and regulatory-associated fees; 3) trade and market access; and 4) consumer-related concern especially the low consumer rights awareness and movements. Thus, industry-wide plans covering both development tracks and the needed regulatory enhancements covering the abovementioned areas would be beneficial to all the FMS. An in-depth study of the sectors, particularly that of the other food products, dairy sector, and grain mill and starch products, should also be given due consideration