PASAKA has been a partner of Agriterra since end 2002 and also has a partnership with BAJK and LLTB. PASAKA elaborated a strategic plan for the years 2009-11 that was adopted by the 6th congress held December 21-22 of 2008. The strategic plan will be the guiding document of the organisation and basis of implementing activities and projects for communities served and organised by PASAKA. This two-year project proposal is a continuation of former projects, but focuses more on productivity enhancement and enterprise development.

PASAKA is a provincial federation of small coconut farmers, farm-workers, small owner cultivators and rural poor in the province of Lanao del Norte. Lanao del Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. PASAKA was organized as a response to the growing harassment of tenant farmers by landowners. PASAKA has representation in seven municipalities of the province Lanao del Norte in the Region Northern Mindanao. PASAKA has registered about 1,700 members, mostly small coconut farmers and landless farmers. PASAKA is an organization that pursues the implementation of Genuine Agrarian Reform and rural development through organizing, capability building and introduction of livelihood programmes and other social services among the coconut farmers, agricultural workers and rural poor with special concern to women and youth. In the third phase of the project, the organization is starting with the entrepreneurial activities. Aside from regular activities as standards for cooperative membership, special focus is on coaching of entrepreneurial management. Business plans will be prepared and feasibility studies executed on production of coco and copra. Land management and asset reform are vital, because without land and sustainable farm technology, there won’t be the desired livelihood development.

Generally, the project aims to assist the farmers in the province in their quest for livelihood development through implementing Sustainable Agricultural methods and technology. Activities for 2007: 1. Farm Systems and Development (Implementation of DIOFS Technology, establishment of Animal mini feed mill, establishment of production farm, construction of potable water systems. 2. Cooperative Development (production of business plan, feasibility studies, and other necessary documents for the establishment of cocopeat factory) 3. Strengthening of PASAKA chapters 4. Continued Agrarian Reform Campaign to Implement Agrarian Reform. 5. Local Governance and Rural Democratization. 6. Campaigns and Advocacy. 7. Assisting and strengthening partnerships (facilitate and assist international and local missions and study visits; regular contact with BAJK and triangle working groups; regular contacts with other international partners).

Generally, the project aims to assist the farmers in the province in their quest for livelihood development through implementing Sustainable Agricultural methods and technology. Activities : 1. Farm Systems and Development (Implementation of DIOFS Technology, establishment of Animal mini feed mill, establishment of production farm, construction of potable water systems. 2. Cooperative Development (production of business plan, feasibility studies, and other necessary documents for the establishment of cocopeat factory) 3. Strengthening of PASAKA chapters 4. Continued Agrarian Reform Campaign to Implement Agrarian Reform. 5. Local Governance and Rural Democratization. 6. Campaigns and Advocacy. 7. Assisting and strengthening partnerships (facilitate and assist international and local missions and study visits; regular contact with BAJK and triangle working groups; regular contacts with other international partners).

Pasaka with this project aims to continue and facilitate the agrarian reform implementation (through para-legal training, advocacy) and improve the positioning of small-holders in the local governance process (through representation in the Barangay Development Council). Furthermore, skills enhancement for agrarian reform beneficiaries are programmed as are programmes for capability building to present and potential farm leaders with special attention to women and rural youth. The PASAKA youth chapter has beginning of 2004 established a partnership with the BAJK the Netherlands which is an integrated part of the PASAKA activities. The lobby and advocacy programme will focus on the continuation of the agrarian reform, freeing the coconut levy and improving local governance. An assessment for a private-public partnership between a copra processor and the coco-nut growers is presently undertaken, expected to be resulting in increasing economic activities and strengthening marketing position of the PASAKA members. The project is a continuation of a 2-years programme implemented by PASAKA and with funding from Agriterra. This project builds upon results from a previous phase.

The project aims at an overall enhancement of the performance of Pasaka as a service-oriented membership organisation for small farmers and tenants in Lanao del Norte, Mindanao. Through enhancing internal capacities (leadership training, cadre training, establishment of secretariat) and building a network it is believed that PASAKA can improve the overall functioning and enhance service delivery to its members. Improved service delivery will focus on 1) providing legal assistance (& para-legal training) in the implementation of the Land Reform Act and 2) provision of technical assistance (and improved seed material) for sustainable coco-tree growing.