Field Visit to Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay 

In line with the objectives of documenting good farming practices for case studies and impact stories, as well as completing the collection of necessary financial support documents, the Knowledge Management (KM) Officer and the Finance Officer conducted a joint field visit to two partner cooperatives from October 19 to 23, 2025. The visited sites included the Barangay Calube Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BACFA-MPC) located in Barangay Calube, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, and the Alicia Neighborhood Multipurpose Cooperative (ALNEMPCO) situated in Sotto St., Poblacion, Zamboanga Sibugay.

The activity aimed to directly engage with farmers, capture their farming experiences and best practices, and ensure proper documentation of cooperative operations for both knowledge-sharing and financial compliance purposes. The visit also provided opportunities to highlight significant themes such as women’s empowerment in agriculture and the promotion of organic and agroecological farming practices.

Objectives

The field visit was undertaken to achieve the following objectives:

1. To document good farming and production practices through on-site visits, interviews, and video recording.
2. To collect remaining financial support documents required for liquidation and audit purposes.
3. To gather stories and qualitative data from farmers and cooperative leaders for the development of case studies and impact narratives.

Schedule and Activities

October 19, 2025 – Arrival and Transit

The KM and Finance Officers departed for Pagadian City via Laguindingan Airport and proceeded to Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte. All-inclusive transportation was arranged for the five-day field engagement to ensure seamless travel between sites.

October 20, 2025 – Site Visit to BACFA-MPC, Lanao del Norte

The team conducted a field visit to the BACFA production area to observe and document the cooperative’s good farming practices. Video and photo documentation were undertaken to capture real-time activities of the farmers.
Interviews were conducted with selected farmers and farm leaders to collect narratives highlighting their experiences, challenges, and best practices. The role of women in farming and cooperative operations was emphasized in the documentation.
The Finance Officer also facilitated the collection of lacking financial support documents and attachments to complete pending liquidations.

October 21, 2025 – Travel to Zamboanga Sibugay

The team traveled by land from BACFA-MPC in Lanao del Norte to ALNEMPCO in Zamboanga Sibugay. The arranged transportation ensured convenience and safety during the long inter-provincial trip.

October 22, 2025 – Site Visit to ALNEMPCO, Zamboanga Sibugay

The field activities continued at ALNEMPCO, where the team visited the cooperative’s production site to document organic farming and agroecological practices.
Interviews were conducted with farmers and farm leaders, focusing on sustainable production methods and the cooperative’s efforts toward promoting environmental stewardship. Similar to the BACFA visit, the collection of remaining financial support documents was also carried out.
All interviews and field activities were recorded for subsequent knowledge-sharing and report development.

October 23, 2025 – Departure

The KM and Finance Officers departed for Tacloban City via Pagadian Airport, concluding the five-day field mission.

Logistical Arrangements

An all-inclusive transport service was hired to assist the team throughout the five-day schedule, covering airport transfers, site visits, and inter-provincial travel. Coordination with local focal persons—Ms. Edna A. Yorong of BACFA and Ms. Jennifer Batan of ALNEMPCO—ensured smooth implementation of activities.

Expected Outputs

• Comprehensive documentation of good farming and production practices in both cooperatives.
• Collection and submission of complete finance support documents for liquidation.
• Rich data and personal stories from farmers and leaders to serve as inputs for upcoming case studies and impact stories.

Conclusion

The field visit to Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay was successfully conducted as planned. It effectively met its dual objectives of documentation and financial compliance, while also strengthening relationships with partner cooperatives. The activity not only showcased the cooperatives’ commitment to sustainable and inclusive farming but also reinforced the value of on-site engagement in capturing authentic experiences that inspire and inform future development interventions.