MARKETING AND PROCESSING

MASIPAG has a support role to its member-farmers organizations who are engaged in alternative and PO-managed marketing and processing initiatives/activities. It may tap marketing experts to assist it in market feasibility assessment and in the provision of technical assistance in actual marketing, and my include identification of marketable cash crops for diversification. Aside from tapping technical expertise, MASIPAG shall also focus in obtaining resources to support locally based and targeted marketing, consistent with its priority of meeting first the local food security needs.

Likewise, in anticipation of the need for external marketing, including possibility of exportation, MASIPAG shall continue to actively participate in setting up and operationalizing the Philippine Organic Certification and Inspection Program. The main purpose is to ensure that small farmers do not get marginalized in this arena.

Efforts by MASIPAG in Marketing and Processing is focused in three areas. First is directed at collaborating with other organic practitioners and advocates in establishing the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP). The second focus of MASIPAG is in developing within its members capacity for Internal Control Systems for organic production. Small farmers in MASIPAG cannot afford individual farm certification currently being offered by OCCP. MASIPAG is initiating ways to establish Group Certification in OCCP and is preparing its members by helping them establish ICS.

The MASIPAG national secretariat has developed manuals for group certification and also guidelines for establishing internal control systems among its farmer members. An orientation meeting with Mr. Michiel Schoenmaker, Netherland-based Agro-Eco consultant was held in March. Initial work by MASIPAG in installing an internal quality control system (IQCS) for organic certification was reviewed by Michiel Schoenmaker using the case of MAPISAN alliance in Negros.

Meanwhile, in Mindanao, the installation of IQCS in the following four (4) network members, is still in progress:

1. Tago Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Inc., Surigao del Sur
2. Southern Christian College, Midsayap, Cotabato
3. Privincial MASIPAG Coordinating Body, Tambulig, Zambo. Sur
4. Kaanib, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

For the year 2002, a total of seven (7) IQCS orientations were conducted (four (4) orientations across Mindanao and two (2) orientations in the Visayas). These orientations help encourage MASIPAG network members, advocates and partners continue and advance their activities in MASIPAG. For instance, in Midsayap, South Cotabato the Southern Christian College (SCC) is now expanding their extension works giving trainings, establishing new trial farms, among others. More and more farmer adapters and organizations are joining the Province-wide organizations called MASIPAG Cotabato.

At the regional level, regional secretariat in Mindanao facilitated inter-organizational marketing of products for member organizations. Initially, the marketing of a total of 200 bags of organic rice were facilitated in North and South Cotabato. Also, the product of KAMPILAN, a network member producing rice in Agusan Sur is being facilitated with NA-FLO, a group of "tapasero", as buyer.

MASIPAG partners and members also participated in the 6th BIOSEARCH 2002 in June 21-23, 2002 and the Agri-Link Trade Fair in October 9-12, 2002. MASIPAG Luzon's Participation in the BioSearch Organic Conference and Exhibit 2002 involved Agrizkaya and MASIPAG farmers's of St. Vincent Credit Cooperative. The two organizations with the assistance of the National Secretariat and their marketing partner had sold their organic rice during the said event. It was an important occasion where farmers were able to witness the growing demand for organic agricultural products.

MASIPAG presided over the 2nd OCCP General Assembly in June 2002 and assisted in facilitating the June 2002 National OA Conference.

The MASIPAG National Coordinator as the OCCP Board Chair together with Members of the OCCP Board and Organic Industry Technical Working Committee directly handled the selection and hiring of the Executive Director of OCCP.