Farmer groups from Region 9 visited Davao to engage in benchmarking activities in preparation for their upcoming subprojects. 

In preparation for their cacao enterprise subproject and banana subprojects respectively, the Nanan Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the Dimataling Kalipi Federated Association visited two “big brother” cooperatives in Region 11 last March 29-30, 2022.

Along with representatives from RPCO 9 & 11 and PSO Mindanao, the two farmer groups visited the PRDP supported cooperatives of Fairtrade Farmers Coconut Multi-purpose Cooperative (FFCC) in Palili, Padada, Davao del Sur, and Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative (BARBCO) in Purok Mangga, Brgy. Talandang, Tugbok District, Davao City.

In line with DA Secretary William Dar’s promotion of big brother-small brother partnerships, the benchmarking activities were conducted in order to share management know-how, technologies, best practices, and operational standards for successful enterprise operations.

The teams conducted key informant interviews and focus group discussions on the processing of chocolate, tablea, and banana chips. They also observed and documented best practices as well as exchanged information on management processes, enterprise operation, and market linkages.

On the first day, the groups visited FFCC to learn about Organic Fairtrade Banana Chips (OFBC). FFCC was a recipient of the PRDP subproject on “Organic Fairtrade Banana Chips Processing” that was completed back in June 02, 2021.  

The group is currently exporting organic banana chips to the Japan market and their main product, their OFBC, is now a USDA Organic Certified, Japan Agriculture Standard Certified, and European Union (EU) Certified. With these, they now have access to high-end markets for their products and raw materials bought from local sources, which in turn are helping local farmers expand their livelihood.

The success of FFCC inspired the Dimataling Kalipi Federated Association to hopefully achieve the same with their banana enterprise.

On the second day, the team visited BARBCO which was one of DA-PRDP beneficiaries for the “Chocolate Processing Enterprise ” subproject which was completed on November 2, 2021. BARBCO is known for their Cacao de Biao since they are now a processor of cacao mass (tablea), cacao nibs, and various forms of chocolates with the support of their existing post-harvest facility that can process 120 tons of dry fermented beans per year.

BARBCO won the gold award in the 2021 Edition of the Cocoa Excellence Programme in Paris with their coffee beans included among the top 50 Best Quality samples all over the world.

It is these best practices in operations and marketing for cacao-based products that have made BARBCO a standard of reference to improve the enterprise performance and management of the proponent group.

The two-day benchmarking activity was led by RPCO 9 I-REAP Component headed by Marissa S. Mohammad together with other RPCO 9 and RPCO 11 components and unit’s key personnel. (Joy Montecalvo, PSO Min with reports from RPCO 9)