3. 87 East DBP Village, Ma-a, Davao City
Ph. (82) 298-6250
www.acdivoca.org

4. Farmers Field School (FFS):
Developing Next Generation of Cocoa Farmers
Janoz Xn Yesu S. Laquihon
Training & Extension Coordinator/Communications Unit Coordinator
ACDI/VOCA

5. OUTLINE
1. Overview: CoCoPal Project
2. The CBAM Model
3. Farmers Field School: CEG managed
4. Conclusion

7. 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.

8. Sustainable Food Production
and Sustainable Livelihoods for
smallholder farmers : CoCoPAL

9. 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

13. 75 Village
Technology and
Extension Farms,
VTEFs
Palayamanan farming
systems based mainly on
cocoa, coconut , rice fruit
trees, vegies, are
A1 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.

14. A2
Training & Extension
62 CEFs + 340 CFLs
to train
25,000 Farmers in Farmer
Field Schools

15. A3
150 POST HARVEST
FACILITIES:
boost accessibility and
productivity of post harvest
processing of rice, coconut
and cocoa products

16. A4
300 MICRO ENTERPRISES SUPPORTED
for enhanced availability and reduced
cost of improved rice, coconut, cocoa
and other plant materials

17. 300 MICRO ENTERPRISES SUPPORTED
Development and extension of
organic based fertiliser and
pesticides inputs for Palayamanan
farming systems
A5

18. Value Chain Growth, smallholder
empowerment, business development
A6
Economic Advancement & Resource Network (EARN)

20. We work across the value chain:
from farm to Van
Constraints not addressed lead to bottlenecks
and mis-trust

21. Private and Public partnerships:
MARS, WCF, PhilRice, CIDAMi, FEDCO,
PASCFO, APEX, CSI, etc.

22. Facilitation of market linkages
Slide from Royal Tropical Institute,
Netherlands

23. Farmer Field Schools, demo farms, farmer to farmer
mechanisms, on farm R&D as extension methods

25. 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

26. 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

27. CoCoPal Barangay AgriBusiness Model
(CBAM)

28. CoCoPal Barangays Agri-Business Model (CBAM)
MODEL 1: Learning
Site1
Learning
Site2
Learning
Site3
CoCoPal
VTEF MGT
CFL3 Curriculum
PHF T&E R&D on Farm CFL1 CFL2
TRAINING/FFS
LGU
OIF VTEF PMF CFL6 FIELD DAYS
Sell of inputs
CEF Seeds/seedlings
CLINICS FARM SYSTEMS CFL5 CFL4
CLINICS
By-products
FFS
Learning
Site6
Learning
Site5
Learning
Site4
FARM VISIT
X3
Market Orientation
CoCoPal Extension Group (CEG)
Finance Education
Facilitate & EARN
MODEL 3: Possible new
Support
MODEL 2:
AGRI FFS group Cluster of
ENTERPRISE Micro-Finance Farmers
&
Agri-Credit
Business Planning
JR / YOUTH NON-COCOPAL • Institution
FARMERS • Contract growing Financial Planning
FFS • BNPL Market Planning
• Private Enterprise
• Traders & Input Suppliers
VTEF SITES Out of School
SCHOOL Farmer
/
CURRICULUM Unemployed Groups/Asso
Plant
RAISE
AWARENESS Producers
Services
SCHOOLS TRADERS
Input
Supply Export Domestic
VILLAGE COMMUNITY

29. CoCoPal Farmers Field School (FFS)

30. 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

31. CoCoPal believes that FFS…
 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

32. CoCoPal FFS has …
 25-30 farmers per
group
 50 farmers per CFL
 300 farmers per CEF
 meets regularly
 Is guided by a
trained facilitator

33. Basis of Training for CoCoPal

34. WHOLE FARM PLANNING

35. 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

36. COCOPAL CHECK SYSTEM: SESSION GUIDE FOR CFLS IN THE CONDUCT OF FFS CLASSES
SESSION STEP TOPIC DURATION KEY CHECKS
• FFS area prepared / LS prepared
Entry plan / Orientation of
based on the CFLs training plan
0 CoCoPal Project @ Brgy level 1 month
• List of possible farmer enrollees
Officials
obtained
KeyCheck 1:
• TPR 1, TPR2 and Master list
completed,
• Course outline/ Training Plan
discussed,
• Scheduled training dates,
• Farmers grouped / Interim Officers
Step 1. Orientation of CoCoPal
1 1 4 hours organized,
Program
• 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.
KeyCheck 2:
Step 2. Farmers Vision, Goals &
2 2 4 hours • Written farmers VGO, Farm locator
Objectives
map, Farm Resource Map achieved

37. SAMPLE TIME SCHEDULE of COCOPAL FFS CLASS
Oras Activity Objective R. Person
8:00-8:15 Roll Call / Paghibalo kinsa ang present ug pag Host Teams
Attendance “remind” unsay nahitabo sa niaging FFS
/Recap
8:15-9:00 Reporting matag Para mahibalo unsay sitwasyon sa matag CFL /
pungpong / uma Mag-uuma
VORAD
9:00-9:15 Group Dynamics • Pagpalagsik sa grupo, CFL /
/ Activity & • Pag-hatag ug ideya sa sunod nga Mag-uuma /
Analysis topiko Host Team
• Pagsubay kung unsa pay wala nahibal-i
sa partisipante
9:15- 10:30 Topic Pag hatag sa kahibalo / lecture CFL / CEF /
(Abstraction) Speaker
10:30-11:30 Practicum Pag-apply sa nahibal-an diha sa imong Mag-uuma /
(Application) uma CFL / CEF /
Speaker
11:30-11:40 Review Pag-review sa natun-an / pagtubag sa CFL
mga pangutana
11:40-11:45 Roll Call / Aron pag sayod kinsay “late comer” o Host Teams
Attendance / absent
Announcement

38. EXT. MATERIALS DEV. BY ACDI/VOCA

39. EXT. MATERIALS DEV. BY ACDI/VOCA

40. EXT. MATERIALS PLANS
FOR 2013 ACDI/VOCA
CoCoPal Multimedia (pending approval)
• CoCoPal SCHOOL ON THE AIR (CSOAP)
• CoCoPal SMS Information Center (CSIC)
• NEWSLETTERS
• AVP

41. CONCLUSION
ACDI/VOCA empowering
people & businesses
succeed in the
global economy

42. 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.

43. CONCLUSION
Farmers…
Volunteers…
that are
empowered to
succeed in
global
economy.