Pioneering beneficiaries of the F2C2 program are being assisted in the drafting of their project proposals to address their key needs and concerns.

 

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – The Department of Agriculture- Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) has selected five pilot commodity clusters in the region as beneficiaries of its farm and fisheries clustering and consolidation program (F2C2).

In a Consultative Meeting and Action Planning on F2C2 program on December 9, 2020, in Malaybalay City, the pioneering beneficiaries were facilitated in drafting their project proposals to address their needs and key concerns.

Each cluster represents the commodities for rice, corn, cassava, high-value crops, and livestock.

These beneficiaries include the Maramag Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MACO-MPC) of Maramag, Bukidnon; Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmer’s Cooperative of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; and Miarayon Highland Farmers Association of Talakag, Bukidnon; Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives of El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental; and San Isidro Lower Women’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Lala, Lanao del Norte.

According to DA-RFO 10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, the F2C2program aims to consolidate the farmers, fishers, and agripreneurs in clusters to attain economies of scale, where they can produce and earn more.

He added, through Administrative Order 27 signed by DA Secretary William D. Dar, F2C2 will also aid the beneficiaries in accessing its credit programs, advance training, farm mechanization, processing facilities, among others.

DA-RFO 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga emphasized, the program targets to organize the farmers and other stakeholders in the agri sector to consolidate their produce and come up with a unified buying price to their advantage.

She urged stakeholders not to focus on a single-based commodity, but to include other crops and livestock-based commodity.

Meanwhile, MACO-MPC Chair Calixto DS. Daquiado remarked, “Ang programang F2C2 sa DA dakong tabang sa mga kooperatiba kay dinhi makita ang panaghiusa sa mga mag-uuma dili lamang sa production apan apil ang marketing. Pinaagi sa coop clustering and consolidation, ang mga miyembro madasig sa pagpang-uma gumikan sa mga suportang kalakip sa programa, sama sa financing, agricultural facilities, machineries ug uban pa.”

[DA’s F2C2 Program is a big help to cooperatives, where farmer-members will be unified not only for production, but including marketing. Through coop clustering and consolidation, the members will be motivated to farm with the support and programs which includes financing, agricultural facilities, machineries and, others.]# (EMBentulan)