Agricultural cooperatives play a crucial role in promoting equality and fostering the engagement of women and youth in the socio-economic arena. The initiative “Empowering women and youth through inclusive cooperatives and agricultural value chains toward peace and development in Mindanao” aims to enhance gender equality and ensure the active participation of young farmers in decision-making and economic growth. The primary objective is to improve the socio-economic conditions of women and young farmers involved in these cooperatives.
Since launching in February 2023, the project has provided capacity development support for women and youth in agricultural cooperatives, enabling them to manage their committees and create business plans tailored to their skills and resources. Currently, 16 cooperatives are benefiting from various enterprise development support, including establishing seedling nurseries, installing cacao fermentation boxes, developing drying facilities, and supplying equipment.
Moreover, the project has facilitated advocacy through established groups and networks, such as the Federation of Agrarian Reform Communities Cooperatives (FEDARCCO) and LAKAMBINI-Mindanao. One significant activity, Fostering leadership, innovative capacity and agrientrepreneruship of youth in Region 13, was conducted earlier this year. Co-organized by AFA, AgriCOOPh, PAKISAMA, and NYC Region 13, the forum served as a platform to collectively discuss and understand the barriers, enabling factors, and opportunities for youth to achieve their leadership potential and facilitate youth-led innovation and enterprises. The forum was designed to allow participants to gain information and knowledge on the following:
- the challenges and barriers faced by youth in agriculture
- innovations of youth
- strategies employed by cooperatives to support their youth members
- ways that youth can engage in leadership and governance of cooperatives, social organizations, and their communities
The two-day Youth in Agriculture Forum involved 54 participants. The summary of the forum can be accessed here.
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