Butuan City, Philippines — On 22-23 October 2025, the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and its partner cooperatives joined over 200 farmers, fisherfolk, cooperative leaders, experts, and innovators at the Knowledge Fair 2025, organized by the GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Island Countries under the project “Strengthening the Implementation of Regional and Local Peace and Development Agendas in Mindanao (SPADe)”. The two-day fair served as a venue for learning, sharing, and showcasing agricultural and aquaculture innovations, highlighting how agri-cooperatives in Mindanao are shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for local food systems.
At the Knowledge Fair, AFA showcased knowledge materials and locally produced products from its partner cooperatives, ranging from fresh harvests to unique handicrafts, demonstrating how farmers’ organizations are adding value to their products and livelihoods. AFA members of AgriCOOPh Federation and Pakisama (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka) also presented their members’ diverse agricultural and artisanal products, celebrating the creativity and resilience of local farmers and producers. Through these exhibits, AFA underscored the central role of farmers’ organizations and cooperatives in building inclusive, climate-smart, and sustainable food systems across Mindanao.
A key highlight of AFA’s participation was the presentation by Irish Baguilat, AFA Coordinator for the Women Farmers Agenda and Program Manager for the AFA SPADe Project, who spoke on “Women and Youth-Led Agriculture: Empowerment and the Future-Ready Workforce.” Baguilat shared AFA’s major accomplishments under the SPADe project, featuring key activities and strategies developed with partner cooperatives to meet their evolving needs. Her session also included inspiring testimonies from four farmers representing different cooperatives, who shared how the project has strengthened their organizations and improved their livelihoods. Watch the video recording of her presentation here.
On the second day of the Knowledge Fair, participants visited various cooperatives under the SPADe project. One of the field sites is the ParbemCafe, a start-up enterprise managed by the youth committee of PARBEMCO in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. AFA supported the cooperative’s young members in launching their coffee shop and developing their coffee brand. PARBEMCO consolidates its members’ coffee products and processes them for market. The youth committee added value to their coffee by branding, packaging, and selling their products in the café and in various expos and exhibitions. 
Another site is the MAFFISCO Multipurpose Cooperative in Bislig City. MAFFISCO is engaged in multiple enterprises including micro-lending, coop mart operations, rice production and trading, members’ savings services, ice plant, and bottled tuna production. 
With support from the SPADe Project, MAFFISCO recently established a new fish processing facility, where they are now able to expand their bottled tuna production and strengthen the livelihoods of their members.
Both PARBEMCO and MAFFISCO are members of AgriCOOPh Federation, AFA’s member organization in the Philippines and an implementing partner of the SPADe Project.
AFA implements the project “Empowering Women and Youth in Cooperatives”, which forms part of the larger SPADe initiative. Through this project, AFA supports the active participation and leadership of women and youth in farmers’ organizations and cooperatives, strengthening their capacity to contribute to peacebuilding, inclusive growth, and sustainable agriculture in Mindanao.
AFA is one of 11 implementing partners under the SPADe initiative, which has benefited more than 100 primary cooperatives across Mindanao. By promoting inclusive participation, innovation, and collaboration, the project continues to contribute to peace, development, and economic resilience in the region.
The “Strengthening the Implementation of Regional and Local Peace and Development Agendas in Mindanao (SPADe)” project is financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ Philippines and the Pacific Island Countries in partnership with the Philippine Government and local cooperatives and organizations through the SPADe MinPAD-RISE project.
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