ZAMBOANGA CITY - The Costa Este IA Agriculture Cooperative and the Distrito Uno IA Agriculture Cooperative successfully underwent an evaluation as part of the Department of Agriculture's Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) Program on July 22, 2025. The assessment focused on reviewing the current operational status and guiding the finalization of each cooperative's 5-Year Development Plan, a key requirement under the F2C2 initiative.
The evaluation was facilitated by Department of Agriculture Region IX's Head and F2C2 focal team. They guided both cooperatives through clustering requirements to ensure alignment with F2C2 objectives, which include promoting economies of scale, expanding market access, and strengthening Agri-enterprise capacities. Technical assistance was also provided by NIA's key personnel, ensuring that irrigation and infrastructure components were integrated into the development plans.
The cooperatives presented and refined their draft 5-Year Development Plans, covering key areas such as organizational structure, production goals, market strategies, financial planning, and climate-adaptive practices. The activity concluded with both organizations reaching consensus on their finalized plans and identifying actionable steps for implementation. This collaborative effort among DA, NIA, and the cooperatives marks a vital stride toward sustainable and inclusive agricultural growth in the region.