March 6, 2015

After the Value Chain Analysis (VCA) for Dairy Cattle has been presented to stakeholders in May and September of 2014, the VCA for Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) and Coffee took its turn last March 4-6 at BP Makiling International, Los Baños, Laguna.

The three-day event was attended by the Provincial Project Monitoring and Implementation Units (PPMIU), Provincial Agriculturists, Farmers, Processors and VCO, Coffee and Cacao Organizations to witness the VCA presentations and participate in a series of workshops on the preparation of PCIP with respect to said commodities.

“VCA is an important tool and requirement of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) for the proposed sub-projects tackling all segments from planning up to evaluation,” said DA-4 Regional Technical Director and PRDP Focal Person Teodora G. Mamades.

RTD Mamades further said that all proposed sub-projects must be anchored to the VCA to ensure its success and sustainability.

“VCA would help identify the role of each stakeholders in producing and marketing the priority commodities and would also help determine suitable sub-projects with respect to top constraints and needs encountered by the stakeholders identified in PCIP, it determines the greatest possible value adding components that would help prioritize the pipeline of proposed sub-projects,” explained Ms. Jade-da Mayoralgo of Project Support Office (PSO) South Luzon while discussing the PRDP overview.

According to Region 4-A, I-PLAN VCA Consultant Dr. Narciso Demampo, “value-chain shall present inclusive growth among all key players from farmers to processors to traders up to markets.”

In relation to this, Region 4-A I-PLAN Component Head Ms. Ella B. Obligado reiterated the case of Katipunan ng mga Kooperatibang Maggagatas Integrated Cooperative (KKMI) wherein partner farmers or raw milk producers can get additional profit for every end-consumer sale.

The VCA for Virgin Coconut Oil was presented by Ms. Jocelyn S. Palacpac on the first day while VCA for Coffee was presented by Mr. Justine Marco M. Vivas on the second day of Region 4-A I-PLAN.

VCA presentations were immediately followed by a series of workshop on preparation of Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIP) moderated by Mr. Rey B. Lara of PSO South Luzon I-PLAN Component.

The workshops include the assessment of stakeholders on the current status of the presented products (VCO, coffee and cacao) and their vision in its respective industry and ranking of constraints to help with prioritization of projects.

Some results included: the formalization of direct linkage between the farmers, processors, traders and markets; standardize consolidation system for each industry; and improvement of traceability of products.

The PRDP RPCO 4-A, together with PSO South Luzon will continue to provide training workshops to the stakeholders of Region IV-A to attract more sub-project proposals and increase stakeholders participation for the success of project. (Radel Llgas, InfoACE RPCO 4-A)