ProjectConverge Region 13

[NEWS] 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐄-𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐈𝐅𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) recognizes the significant developments in the enterprises of Caraga under the Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE), a project implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform. Developments were noted based on the recently concluded Supervision and Implementation Support (SIS) Mission conducted by IFAD as the project’s funding agency last November 14-18, 2022.

Among the objectives of the IFAD SIS Mission is to review the performance and progress of ConVERGE; evaluate the achievements, constraints and initial impacts of the project; and identify lessons learned in enterprise and project implementation.

The mission conducted a series of discussions, thematic meetings, field visits and focus group dialogues involving farmer-beneficiaries, stakeholders, collaborators and project implementers. Said activities were held across the four (4) Value Chain enterprise clusters in Caraga Region namely: the rice cluster in Agusan del Sur, abaca cluster in Agusan del Norte, coconet cluster in Surigao del Norte and coffee cluster in Surigao del Sur.

According to Ronald Chua, Value Chain and Finance Specialist, all the enterprises in Caraga are operating and benefits are already observed in the farm level based on the project’s interventions based on the information acquired during the presentations and field visits.

An increase of 23.3% in the on-farm annual income in the 4 Caraga enterprises was observed based on the 2021 Annual Outcome Survey.
Chua further stressed that with the significant developments noted, the forward plans of the enterprises should involve review and monitoring, continued collaborations with partners and stakeholders as well as further capacity building and strengthening of the enterprises.

Team leader and IFAD Acting Country Programme Officer Yolando Arban also highlighted that it is important to assess the project’s performance so lessons can be drawn to aid in the implementation of future IFAD projects and other value chain related undertakings.

ConVERGE National Project Director and DAR Caraga Regional Director Atty. Merlita S. Capinpuyan emphasized on the importance of the IFAD mission as a way of assessing the capacity of the ARBOs and identifying future interventions of mainstream DAR beyond project duration.

Various activities and interventions are set to be conducted for the Caraga enterprises as the project gears up for completion.

To know more about ConVERGE and its activities, visit https://projectconverge.ph/.

The series of IFAD SIS Mission field visits capped off at SIUFMULCO in Santiago, the Lead Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization for the Abaca enterprise in Agusan del Norte.

As the LARBO of the TUJAKITSAN ARC Cluster, a dialogue was conducted between SIUFMULCO and IFAD, discussing on the good practices, future plans for expansion and other aspects of the enterprise. The mission was led by Mr. Yolando Arban, IFAD Acting Country Programme Officer along with Mr. Ronald Chua, Value Chain and Finance Specialist.