i Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Volume III: Project Achievements and Impact

Pons Batugal and Jeffrey Oliver, editors ii POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) is an independent international scientific organization that seeks to improve the well-being of present and future generations of people by enhancing conservation and the deployment of agricultural biodiversity on farms and in forests. It is one of 15 Future Harvest Centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private members who support efforts to mobilize cutting-edge science to reduce hunger and poverty, improve human nutrition and health, and protect the environment. IPGRI has its headquarters in Maccarese, near Rome, Italy, with offices in more than 20 other countries worldwide. The Institute operates through four programmes: Diversity for Livelihoods, Understanding and Managing Biodiversity, Global Partnerships, and Improving Livelihoods in Commodity-based Systems. The international status of IPGRI is conferred under an Establishment Agreement which, by January 2005, had been signed by the Governments of Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and Ukraine. Financial support for IPGRI’s research is provided by more than 150 donors, including governments, private foundations and international organizations. For details of donors and research activities please see IPGRI’s Annual Reports, which are available in printed form on request from [email protected] or from IPGRI’s Web site (www.ipgri.cgiar.org). The geographical designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IPGRI or the CGIAR concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Similarly, the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations. Mention of a proprietary name does not constitute endorsement of the product and is given only for information.

Citation: Batugal, P. and Oliver, J., editors. 2005. Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities, Volume III: Project Achievements and Impact. International Plant Genetic Resources Institute – Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Inside layout by: Jeffrey T. Oliver

Cover pictures (clockwise from top left): Tiara Mataora, Research Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture of Cook Islands, admiring the typhoon-resistant Cook Island Tall coconut variety (Photo by R. Bourdeix, CIRAD); A Vietnamese project beneficiary proudly showing one of her high-yielding variety coconut seedling which she grew in her household nursery in Tam Quan Nam (photo by Jeffrey Oliver); A Hung Phong, Vietnam entrepreneur with her various high-value coconut products (photo by Jeffrey Oliver); A Filipino coconut farmer happily weaving single-ply coconut fibre rope which would later be used to make geotextile (photo by Rodolfo Coronel).

ISBN 92-9043-653-0 IPGRI-APO PO Box 236, UPM Post Office Serdang 43400 Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia

© International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, 2005 Contents iii

Contents

Foreword v

Introduction vi

Acknowledgement viii

SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact

Summary of achievements and impact of the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project 3

Country project achievements South Asia Bangladesh 27 India 30 Sri Lanka 33 Southeast Asia Indonesia 36 Philippines 40 Vietnam 44 South Pacific Fiji 48 Papua New Guinea 50

SECTION 2: Project Achievements under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

Organizing farmers and communities to catalyze project activities 55

Investing in the future through village-level microcredit system 60

Empowering farmers through training and capacity building 65

Increasing livelihood opportunities through market research and strengthening of market channels 69

Conserving and enhancing coconut diversity to sustain productivity 73

Increasing farmers’ incomes and improving farm productivity through coconut- based income-generating technologies: 77

Enhancing farmers’ incomes through high-value product diversification 77 Maximizing farm productivity through intercropping 79 Boosting farm earnings and family nutrition through integration of livestock in a coconut-based farming system 81

Mobilizing project support through strategic public awareness 83

Creating and nurturing partnerships and collaborations for project sustainability 85 iv POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

SECTION 3: Project Success Stories

Documenting success stories under COGENT’s Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities project 91

Individual farmer and income-generating group success stories South Asia Bangladesh 94 India 112 Sri Lanka 134 Southeast Asia Indonesia 162 Philippines 167 Vietnam 177 South Pacific Fiji 186 Papua New Guinea 188

SECTION 4: Participatory Project Evaluation

Overview of participatory project evaluation 191

Community-level participatory project evaluation: Determining farmers’ perception of the link between coconut genetic diversity and sustainable livelihoods 194

Impact assessment of the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project in the Philippines 205

SECTION 5: Project Impact

Project impact evaluation by CBO Presidents, NGO Heads and NARS Leaders 219 Participatory impact evaluation by CBO Presidents 219 Participatory impact evaluation by NGO Heads 232 Participatory impact evaluation by NARS Leaders 236

SECTION 6: Project Sustainability and the Way Forward

Learning from experience: Lessons learned from the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities project 249

Sustainability of poverty reduction in coconut growing communities: Can it be attained? 262

Institutionalizing and scaling-up research on poverty reduction in coconut growing communities 268 Foreword v

Foreword

The success of the “people-centered, crop diversity-based” ADB-funded “Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities” (PRCGC) project of IPGRI-COGENT could be largely measured according to two criteria: (1) the fulfillment of its set goals and objectives, particularly testing sus- tainable coconut-based income generating technologies and promoting co- conut diversity in the communities; and (2) the extent and breadth of its actual positive impact on the lives of its intended beneficiaries, specifically the coconut farmers and their families. This publication, which is the final installment in a three-part series under the PRCGC project, is a testament to the project’s overall success in terms of the two criteria mentioned. The implementation and completion of the PRCGC project is, in itself, an achievement for IPGRI as the project is one of the first of its kind to be undertaken by the Institute under its new mandate of plant genetic diversity conservation and utilization – of linking PGR conservation and its use to poverty alleviation. The PRCGC project marks an important milestone for IPGRI in its thrust towards its new mandate of promoting diversity through a people-centered approach to serve as a model for similar projects to be undertaken by the Institute in the future. Aptly entitled “Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities, Volume III: Project Achievement and Impact”, this book documents the actual achievements of the project and its perceived initial impact on its farmer-beneficiaries through reports, articles and writeups substantiated by socioeconomic data and photos. Moreover, this book highlights the stories, experiences and testimonies of actual people – the communities, the farmers and their fami- lies, the country project implementers – attesting to what the project has achieved and how it affected and benefited their lives. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the COGENT Team, led by Dr. Pons Batugal and his staff, for effectively implementing, monitoring and coordinating the PRCGC project. My heartfelt gratitude as well goes out to the national partners, the CBOs, NGOs, and most especially to the farmers for their hard work, perseverance and cooperation. I would also like to thank our donor, the Asian Development Bank, for their full support of the project and their faith in IPGRI-COGENT. May the impact and achievements of this project, the fruits of our common effort, continue to benefit the present and future genera- tions of coconut farmers.

Percy E. Sajise Regional Director International Plant Genetic Resources Institute Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania vi POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Introduction

About 96% of coconuts are grown by smallholders tending four hectares or less of land, in many cases not owned by them. About 85% of the 12 million hectares of coconuts are grown in the Asia Pacific region. Coconut farmers are marginalized: they grow coconut and associated crops in rainfed and often environmentally fragile areas; most live below the poverty line, are resource-poor and unable to obtain credit; moreover, they do not have the political clout to influence public- and private-sector policy. In many of the major coconut-producing countries, research support to this sector is inadequate or non-existent. In 1997, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) awarded a research grant to the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) entitled ‘Sustainable use of coconut genetic resources to enhance incomes and nutrition of coconut smallholders in the Asia-Pacific region’ which was participated by 14 countries (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka in South Asia; China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam in East and Southeast Asia; and Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu in the South Pacific). The project successfully identified high-value multipurpose uses of the coconut and coconut-based production systems that have the potential to help poor farmers increase their incomes. In 2002, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) awarded to IPGRI a three-year Regional Technical Assistance (RETA) grant entitled ‘Developing sustainable coconut-based income generating technologies in poor rural communities’ involving eight countries (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Fiji and Papua New Guinea). This project was coordinated by IPGRI in collaboration with its International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT). The objective of this research project was to prove the hypothesis that coconut farmers need not be poor. Using information derived from the previous IFAD-funded initiative, the project tested in poor coconut growing communities the technical feasibility, financial viability, social acceptability and environmental safety of coconut-based technologies and production systems, namely: 1) producing and marketing high-value products from all parts of the coconut – kernel, husk, shell, wood, water, leaves; 2) intercropping cash and food security crops/integrating livestocks; and 3) propagating in community-managed nurseries important local and introduced high-value coconut varieties and conserving them in situ and on farm. The project was implemented in 25 poor coconut growing communities in the eight participating Asia Pacific countries with at least three representative communities per country and involving 25 community-based organizations (CBOs), eight national research agencies mandated to work on coconut and three non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In effect, the project also developed an IARC-NARS-CBO-NGO collaboration model for conducting poverty reduction research in poor rural villages. The production trials involving the three income- and food security-generating strategies were managed by the CBOs and NGOs with guidance from IPGRI/COGENT and the partner NARS organizations. IPGRI/COGENT and its NARS and NGO partner organizations further supported the CBOs in terms of providing access and linkages to support organizations which could provide the needed major livelihood capitals to make these interventions sustainable. These capitals are: natural (coconut varieties, cash and food security crops, livestock, etc.); physical (efficient and affordable village-level technologies, equipment and machineries); financial (capital for non- collateralized, low-interest microcredit); social (capable community-based organizations to help farmers); and human (trained farmers and women beneficiaries, researchers and extension workers). Chapter 1 of this publication summarizes the overall achievements of the project in the three years of its implementation. It also includes the specific accomplishments of the project in each of the eight participating countries. Introduction vii

Chapter 2 describes the successful achievements in the area of community and microcredit organizing and management, empowering farmers through training and capacity building, strengthening marketing support, and conserving and enhancing coconut diversity. It also describes the overall individual and community effort, and benefits in coconut high-value product diversification, intercropping and livestock/fodder production, mobilizing support through public awareness initiatives, and creating and nurturing partnerships and collaboration for project sustainability. Chapter 3 presents over 120 success stories of the project beneficiaries (thanks are due to Mr Zac Zarian and Ms Ester Lopez who converted the draft ‘technical’ articles into newspaper feature format). It also describes the process of selecting the outstanding individual and community leader participants for special project awards and documents the experience of these awardees. Chapter 4 presents the overview of the project’s participatory evaluation process and the two benefit and impact assessments surveys conducted at the community level. Chapter 5 presents the project benefits and impact from the point of view of the project leaders, country research directors, heads of NGOs and presidents of CBOs. Chapter 6 presents the lessons learned, sustainability elements and the way forward for institutionalizing and scaling up the project to benefit more people in coconut growing communities worldwide. The project has successfully proven the hypothesis that coconut farmers need not be poor. In the spirit of sharing, IPGRI-COGENT documented this successful project in four major publications, namely: (1) Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities, Volume I: The Framework and Project Plan; (2) Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities, Volume II: Mobilizing for Action; (3) Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities, Volume III: Achievements and Impact (this publication); and (4) Special Edition of the COGENT Newsletter on the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project. It is hoped that researchers, extension and development workers will find these four publications useful as guides in undertaking poverty reduction initiatives which empower poor people to improve their lives. It is also hoped that this successful experiment will convince policy makers and donors worldwide to direct their resources in supporting similar projects to uplift the vast majority of coconut farmers in the long-neglected coconut sector from being poor to progressive, self-sufficient members of their households and communities. On behalf of IPGRI and COGENT, I would like to thank the eight NARs organizations, three NGOs, 25 CBOs and the other various support institutions which actively collaborated with IPGRI to implement the project. I also would like to thank IFAD which funded the first project initiative and a second follow up project to be implemented in 2005-2007; DFID which supported the identification, socioeconomic characterization and selection of the 25 participating communities; and ADB which provided the grant for the large-scale testing of technologies and strategies, empowerment and capacity building activities and overall management of the project. Most importantly, I would like to extend my appreciation to the over 5000 poor coconut farmers and socioeconomically disadvantaged women who valiantly organized themselves and participated in a challenging collaborative effort with IPGRI- COGENT, NARS, NGOs and CBOs to improve their lives.

Pons Batugal Coordinator International Coconut Genetic Resources Network International Plant Genetic Resources Institute Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania viii POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Acknowledgement

IPGRI and COGENT would like to thank the following people and organizations for their outstanding and selfless contribution to the successful implementation and completion of the ADB-funded “Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities” project:

Bangladesh Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) „ Dr. Safiul Alam Bhuiyan/Mr. Abdur Rashid/Md Nazirul Islam, Project Leaders „ Dr. Babul Chandra Sarker, Associate Project Leader

Technical Support Group: „ Mr. Babul Chandra Sarker, Horticulture/Coconut Breeder „ Dr. M. A. Quayyum, Farming System Specialist „ Dr. S. C Barman, Rural Sociologist and Economist „ Md. Nurul Amin, Farm Machinery and Post-harvest Process Engineering Division „ Dr. Sharif Ahmed Chowdhuri, Animal Production and Research Division

Community Coordinators: „ Md. Mizanur Rahman, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore „ Mr. Swopan Roy, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Khulna „ Mr. Ashaful Alam, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Chandrapara, Barisal

Fiji Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement (MASLR) „ Mr. Jai Kumar (Director Research), Project Manager „ Mr. Tevita Kete/Mr. Kamlesh Chand Puran, Project Leaders

Technical Support Group: „ Mr. Vijendra Kumar, WRS „ Mr. Manoa Iranacola, TCC „ Mr. Sanaila Turaga, A/SAO Cakaudrove „ Mrs. Susana Yalikanacea, Cicia „ Mr. Viliame Yabakivou, PAO Eastern „ Mr. Jai Kumar, Director Research „ Mrs. Una Naikatini, Acting Director Extension „ Mr. Aliki Turagakula, PRO Agronomy „ Mr. Sakeo Matakaruru, Veterinary Officer „ Mr. Jone Robo, Cooperative Officer

Community Coordinators: „ Mr. Manoa Iranacola/Mr. Shandeep Sharma, Tukavesi Community „ Mr. Vijendra Kumar, Belego Community „ Mrs. Susana Yalikanacea, Cicia Community

India Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) „ Dr. V. Rajagopal and Dr. S. Arulraj, Project Leaders Acknowledgement ix

Technical Support Group: „ Dr. P. M. Kumaran, Head of Division (Crop Improvement) „ Dr. Rohini Iyer, Head of Division (Crop Protection) „ Dr. R. Dhanapal, Sr. Scientist (Agronomy) „ Dr. C. V. Sairam, Sr. Scientist (Agricultural Economics) „ Dr. S.J. D. Bosco, Sr. Scientist (Post Harvest Technology) „ Dr. C. Thamban, Scientist (Senior Scale) (Agricultural Extension) „ Dr. Samsudeen, Scientist (Senior Scale) (Economic Botany)

Community Coordinators: „ Dr. C. Thamban and Dr. K. Samsudeen, Pallikkara, Kasaragod, Kerala „ Dr. C.V. Sairam and Dr. S.J.D. Bosco, Ariyankuppam, Pondicherry

Peekay Tree Crops Development Foundation (PTCDF) „ Mr. P.K.Thampan, Community Coordinator, Vayalar, Kerala „ Mr. V.Venkitachalam, Project Associate „ Mr. K.V.Raveendran, Community Organizer „ Ms. Omana Banerjee, Secretary „ Mr. N.K.Suseelan, Field Extension Worker

Indonesia Indonesian Centre for Estate Crops Research and Development (ICECRD) „ Dr. Doah Dekok Tarigans, Project Leader „ Ms. Jeanette Kumaunang, Project Facilitator

Technical Support Group: „ Ir. Henkie T. Luntungan, Plant Breeder/Alternate Project Leader „ Dra. Iis Nana Maya, Communication „ Dr. Hengky Novarianto, Regional Coordinator/North Sulawesi and Gorontalo „ Ir. R.B. Maliangkai, Deputy Regional Coordinator „ Ir. Jeanette Kumaunang, Technical Assistant for North Sulawesi and Gorontalo „ Mr. Ronald T. Hutapea, Agricultural Economist „ BIPP, Poigar Regent Extension Service „ BIPP, Wori Regent Extension Service „ Ms. Dinas Perkebunan, Extension Service „ Etty Sumiati, Treasure „ Kusumo Wardono, Administration

Community Coordinators: „ Mr. Engelbert Manaroinsong SP, Nonapan Village „ Mr. David Sumura, Wori Village „ Mr. Yulianus R. Matana SP, Huntu/Batudaa Village

Papua New Guinea Cocoa and Coconut Institute (CCI) „ Mr. Will Akus, Project Leader

Technical Support Group: „ Mr. Tore Ovasuru, Plant Breeder „ Mr. Masayan Moat, Research Scientist, Livestock „ Dr. Mathias Faure, Plant Breeder, Coconut „ Mr. Paul Tumun, Extension Officer „ Mr. Geno Genolamah, Food Technologist x POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

„ Mr. Jeffrey Marfu, Plant Breeder, Cocoa „ Mr. Titus Kakul, Entomologist „ Mr. Joachim Lumani, Economist

Community Coordinators: „ Mr. Waike Yasinge, Murukanam, Madang „ Mrs Serah Aloysius, Transgogol, Madang „ Mr. Donald Laho and Mr. Kurengen Sik Messah, Last Karkar, Madang

Philippines Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) „ Mr. Carlos Carpio, Programme Leader „ Ms. Erlene C. Manohar and Ms. Rhoda Althea P. Prudente, Project Leaders

Technical Support Group: „ Dr. Severino S. Magat, Soil Fertility & Crop Nutrition „ Mr. Romulo N. Arancon,Jr., Training & Knowledge Management „ Mr. Gerardo A. Santos, Breeding & Genetics „ Ms. Dina M. Masa, Food Processing Technology „ Engr. Divina Bawalan, Village-level Processing „ Dr. Dennis J. Calub, Socioeconomics „ Mr. Jose S. Cruz, Livestock „ Ms. Lidelia M. Astete, Research Management „ Ms. Erlene C. Manohar, Community Development & IPM

Community Coordinators: „ Mr. Rolando Paril, Mapalad, Real, Quezon „ Ms. Joy Aster Gamolo, Linabu, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental „ Mr. Henry Alvarez, Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental

Sri Lanka Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL) „ Mr. Ajith Dias Samarajeewa, Project Leader

Technical Support Group: „ Mr. J.M.D.T. Everard, Plant Breeder „ Mrs. Sudarma R. Samarajeewa, Economist „ Mr. A.D. Samarajeewa, Integrated Farming and Livestock Specialist „ Mr. K.D.P.P. Gunathilake, Food Technologist

Community Coordinators: „ Ms. Padmini Ratnayaka, Wilpotha „ Mr. Don Ruwan Harshajeewa Nishshanka, Thuttipiritigama „ Ms. Galmangoda Gamage Pramodha Prsanganie, Dodanduwa

Vietnam Oil Plant Institute (OPI) „ Mr. Vo Van Long, Project Leader

Technical Support Group: „ Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thuy, Director of Dong Go Experimental Center, OPI „ Mrs. Nguyen Thi Bich Hong, Head of Perennial Oil Crops Division Acknowledgement xi

„ Mrs. Pham Thi Lan, Vice Head of Perennial Oil Crops Division „ Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Researcher „ Mr. Ha Van Han, Researcher „ Ms. Ngo Thi Kieu Duong, Researcher „ Mr. Nguyen Van Trai, Researcher „ Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, Researcher

Community Coordinators: „ Mrs. Dang Thi Be, Hung Phong Community „ Mrs. Pham Thi Dep, Xuan Dong Community „ Mr. Hynh Minh Ngoc, Tam Quan Nam Community „ Mr. Luu Vinh Phu, Phong Nam Community (satellite project site)

Due recognition is hereby given to these outstanding people and organizations for their tireless efforts in improving the lives of poor coconut farmers in their respective countries. May our partnership in this work continue to bear fruit in the years to come. xii POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 1 Section 1 Summary of Project Achievements and Impact

• Summary of achievements and impact of the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project • Country project achievements South Asia Bangladesh India Sri Lanka Southeast Asia Indonesia Philippines Vietnam South Pacific Fiji Papua New Guinea 2 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 3

Summary of achievements and impact of the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project

Pons Batugal Coordinator, International Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT); and Senior Scientist, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute - Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania (IPGRI-APO), Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia

Background About 96% of coconuts are grown by smallholders tending four hectares or less of land which many of them do not own. About 85% of the 12 million hectares of coconuts are grown in the Asia Pacific region. Coconut farmers are marginalized: they grow coconut and associated crops in rainfed and often environmentally fragile areas; most live below the poverty line; are resource-poor; considered non-bankable by the credit sector; and they do not have political clout to influence public and private sector policy. Even in many of the large coconut producing countries, research support to this sector is inadequate if not nil. IPGRI believes that if resource-poor farmers are empowered, they could improve their lives and lift their socioeconomic status over the poverty line. To address the urgent need of empowering poor coconut farmers and helping the long neglected coconut sector, IPGRI requested - and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) awarded - a Regional Technical Assis- tance (RETA) grant to IPGRI (RETA 6005 for 2000-2004) entitled ‘Developing sustainable coconut-based income-generating technologies in poor rural communities’. IPGRI coordi- nated the project involving eight national coconut research agencies, three non-governmen- tal organizations (NGOs) and 25 community-based organizations (CBOs) in eight Asia Pa- cific countries (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Fiji and Papua New Guinea) as shown in Annex 1.

Objective The project objective is to develop efficient village-level, income-generating technologies and strategies that are technically feasible, financially viable, socially accept- able and environmentally safe, using COGENT’s three- pronged strategy: 1) production and marketing of high- value coconut products from all parts of the coconut – the kernel, husk, shell, wood, water and leaves); 2) inter- cropping cash and food security crops with coconut and integrating livestock/fodder production; and 3) establishing community-managed nurseries to propagate and sell quality planting materials of farmer-selected local and introduced high-value va- rieties and conserve them on farm. The project also iden- tified, enhanced and provided access to the five essen- tial capitals (physical, natural, financial, social and hu- man) needed to convert these income generating in- terventions into sustainable livelihoods. For details about the project framework, see ‘Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities, Volume I: The Framework and Project Plan’.

Activities The PRCGC project has helped farmers help themselves and proved that coconut farmers “need Prior to the release of project funds to IPGRI in May not be poor”. 2002, the UK’s Department for International Devel- 4 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III opment (DFID) supported the identification and socioeconomic profiling of 89 coconut grow- ing communities from which 24 communities were chosen as project sites. IPGRI and its partner organizations also organized the project team and technical support groups in each country using IPGRI’s and national counterpart funds. Upon release of the ADB funds, the following activities were conducted (see Annex 2): 1. Establishment and strengthening of 25 CBOs to manage the project at the commu- nity level. Special emphasis was made on the design of the CBOs to ensure broad access and participation of several categories of stakeholders, including women; 2. Establishment of a microcredit system and provision of initial revolving fund for each of the 25 CBOs; 3. Market surveys to identify marketable products and development of market chan- nels to make such markets sustainable; 4. Development and implementation of farmers’ and women’s action plans for income- generating activities; 5. Development of training manuals on income-generating technologies and the devel- opment of instruments for analysis and promotion of viable technologies; 6. Development of community-managed income-generating coconut seedling nurser- ies and the documentation, enhancement and conservation of selected and promis- ing local and introduced coconut varieties; 7. Training of coconut farmers, women and village-level entrepreneurs on income-gen- erating technologies; 8. Evaluation of inexpensive village-level oil mills and equipment for producing high- value coconut products; 9. Development and viability testing of the production and marketing of identified marketable high-value coconut products from the kernel, husk, shell, water, wood and leaves; and promotion of varieties suitable for such high-value coconut prod- ucts; 10. Pilot production and marketing of high-value products from the coconut’s kernel, husk, shell, wood, water and leaves; 11. Development and viability testing of: (a) coconut-based intercropping technologies for enhancing incomes and food security; and (b) livestock and fodder production to boost total farm productivity and nutrition; and 12. Promoting the use of research results through field days and the replication and adoption of resulting viable development interventions by national governments, de- velopment organizations and NGOs.

The project inception and stakeholders’ meeting was held on 25 February – 1 March 2002 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, hosted by the Oil Plants Institute (OPI); the second project meeting on 20 – 24 August 2003 in Davao City, Philippines, hosted by the Philippine Coco- nut Authority; and the final project meeting on 27 – 30 September 2004 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and hosted by the OPI once more. For details of the project activities and target outputs, please refer to Annex 2 and the publication entitled ‘Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities, Volume II: Mobilizing for Action’.

Project outputs The results of the project proved that poor coconut farmers’ and socioeconomically disad- vantaged women’s lives could be improved if they were properly trained, empowered and given access to opportunities and resources, in this case the coconut-based village-level in- come generating activities, technologies and related support systems. In a period of only three years, 25 farmer CBOs in eight countries with a total of 5715 members were estab- lished and strengthened; 17 392 farmers and women trained on various income-generating activities; 43 community-managed coconut and 14 multi-purpose seedling nurseries estab- SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 5 lished; 65 501 coconut seednuts of local varieties sown in community-managed nurseries; 64 521 coconut seedlings of farmers’ and introduced high-value varieties planted and con- served on-farm; 1593 farmers and women involved in coconut-based livestock production trials, 4039 in intercropping trials and 2005 in production of high-value coconut products; and about 140 public awareness materials developed and disseminated. For details of these achievements, please see Annex 3. In the production of high-value coconut products, more than 2000 CBO members, 74% of whom are women, participated. There were 210 participants in Bangladesh, 17 in Fiji, 615 in India, 100 in Indonesia, 89 in Papua New Guinea, 378 in the Philippines, 168 in Sri Lanka and 428 in Vietnam. CBO members, trained and working as individuals or in groups, produced cooking oil, virgin coconut oil for body and hair lotion, kernel-based detergent and bath soaps, fibre-based ropes, doormats and geotextile, shell- and wood-based cooking utensils and exportable handicrafts, coconut water- and sap-based vinegar and sugar, and coconut leaf-based decorative baskets, hats and other handicrafts. Depending on how many capable members of the participating families were involved, they increased their income by 3-5 times compared to their previous income from copra, securing for them a steady source of additional income and helping them rise above the poverty line. Equally important, this project intervention has provided employment opportunities to formerly unemployed and underemployed rural women resulting in enhanced self-esteem, and economic and social empowerment. For intercropping, 4039 farmers and their households participated in intercropping tri- als consisting of 115 in Bangladesh, 454 in Fiji, 759 in India, 748 in Indonesia, 418 in Papua New Guinea, 473 in the Philippines, 328 in Sri Lanka, and 744 in Vietnam. Net incomes from planting cash crops in small plots of land between coconuts have significantly increased. Not only were income and total farm productivity enhanced, but also food security and nutrition since families planted, grew and ate their own produce. For animal production, a total of 1593 CBO members, 58% of whom are women, raised a variety of livestock like quails, poultry, ducks, rabbits, goats, swine and cattle. There were 185 participants in Bangladesh, 32 in Fiji, 370 in India, 82 in Indonesia, 126 in Papua New Guinea, 334 in the Philippines, 197 in Sri Lanka and 267 in Vietnam. The integration of livestock production in coconut farming is still in its early stages, but many CBO members have already adopted the animal production technologies introduced by the project as com- ponents of their sustainable livelihood activities. The initial results showed tremendous po- tential not only in generating income but more so in improving nutrition. To support the conservation and promotion of coconut diversity, 43 community-man- aged coconut and 14 multi-purpose seedling nurseries were established; 65 501 coconut seednuts of local varieties sown in these nurseries; and 64 521 coconut seedlings of farmers’ and introduced high-value varieties planted and conserved on-farm. The 24 communities (excluding the Maitum site in the Philippines) also identified and characterized 89 impor- tant local varieties through farmers’ diversity fairs. Through this participatory intervention, the farmers themselves characterized and identified suitable, high-yielding and high-value local varieties. The source palms of the selected varieties were paint-marked and the seednuts harvested from these palms were propagated in the nurseries. These community-managed nurseries are envisioned to provide a steady supply of high-quality planting materials for the communities.

Project benefits To determine the benefits and the initial impact of the project, a two-stage assessment was carried out: (1) rapid assessment survey involving project leaders and heads of implement- ing research agencies, NGOs and CBOs; and (2) more detailed survey involving farmers and other members of the participating communities in the project. Based on these surveys, the following project benefits were identified: 1. The project provided an effective IARC-NARS-CBO mechanism for promoting in- come generating activities in previously resource-poor coconut growing communi- 6 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

ties in their countries; and in providing the five needed capitals for sustainable liveli- hoods (i.e., physical, natural, financial, social and human capitals) to make these income generating activities sustainable. Most of these technologies and resources were not available to the 25 project participating communities in eight countries before the project; 2. The project provided farmers access to efficient but affordable village-level coconut processing equipment, machinery and technologies for producing high-value coco- nut products which were sourced from several COGENT member countries. In some communities, the local government provided the needed infrastructure and other facilities such as roads, training centres and electrical power connections to support the project; 3. The project enriched the communities’ natural capital in the form of important local coconut varieties which farmers identified and characterized with the help of re- searchers and breeders and propagated them in community-managed nurseries. The project also facilitated the introduction of high-value coconut varieties in the com- munity thereby enhancing the diversity of their coconut germplasm; 4. The project enhanced the communities’ social capital by organizing the farmers into CBOs and strengthening and enabling these organizations to effectively plan, man- age and implement income generating activities for its constituents; 5. The project provided the needed financial capital in the form of collateral-free re- volving funds for the 25 CBOs to establish their own microcredit systems, enabling poor farmers and women without land or assets to engage in income generating activities; and 6. The project enhanced the human capital of the communities, empowering them through training to effectively and efficiently carry out coconut-based sustainable livelihood activities. The project trained over 17 000 community members on estab- lishing and managing CBOs and microcredit system, producing high-value coconut products, intercropping cash and food security intercrops, raising livestock in a co- conut-based farming system and producing feed/ fodder, and establishing and man- aging seedling nurseries.

Project impact The same surveys indicated how the benefits generated by the project affected the lives of coconut farmers, particularly their socioeconomic status. The identified initial impacts of the project include:

Impact on farm households At the farm household level, income generating skills have been enhanced, providing ca- pable members of the family the opportunity to earn in each of the four stages of the com- modity chain - production, processing, marketing and consumption– thereby increasing farm incomes by three to five-fold compared to pre-project earnings. And because of addi- tional incomes and savings, more families were able to send their children to school. Inter- cropping cooking banana, cassava, sweet potato, taro, yams, maize, etc has enhanced food security, while raising vegetables and livestock (native chicken for meat and eggs, goat and cattle for meat and milk, ducks, etc) has improved nutrition. Engaging in collective work has also promoted family cohesiveness.

Impact on communities At the community level, the impact on women has been particularly tremendous. The project enabled previously destitute and unemployed or underemployed women to earn money, shed inhibitions and empowered them to make informed decisions affecting their lives and, in the process, raising their self-esteem. Unemployment rate in the communities was signifi- cantly reduced as formerly idle labour was put into productive use in various coconut-based SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 7 income generating activities. The project also encouraged community members to work in groups as agricultural entrepreneurs, developing their business and group problem solving skills. The project also increased farmers’ capabilities in optimally and profitably managing their coconut farms, with many adopting the modern, integrated coconut farming systems technique introduced by the project and discarding their traditional methods which mainly revolved around coconut monoculture. Due to the actual socioeconomic benefits experi- enced by project participants in a period of three years, the project has enhanced the attrac- tiveness of coconut as a commercial crop and has convinced farmers to plant and invest more in coconuts. The project also increased the awareness of community members on the importance and the need to conserve and promote diversity which is imperative for sustained farm productivity. Because of its unique combination of poverty reduction interventions, the project attracted the attention and, therefore, the support of government, donors and other stakeholders which benefited the participating communities. Its strategic public awareness strategy made popular the participating communities, so much so that others are looking up to them as models of how farmers, working in unison towards a common goal, would be able to make a significant difference in their own lives. Because of the participatory approaches adopted by the project, the farmers’ sense of ownership and community belonging were enhanced. The project not only improved the quality of life of resource-poor farmers in coconut growing communities but also prepared them socially, psychologically and emotionally for longer-term socioeconomic development.

Impact on NARS The survey respondents agreed that the project was able to enhance the service capacity of the research implementing agencies in each of the eight countries. The project improved the ‘bridging’ or facilitating role of the implementing research institute by providing their scien- tists, researchers and extension workers with the opportunity to test and disseminate to resource-poor coconut growing communities recommended technologies produced by their research programmes. This has given the implementing agencies’ staff the needed exposure to actual grassroots work and boost their confidence about their research. Some project leaders also said that because of the various training and other capacity-building activities conducted under the project, many of their staff acquired new knowledge and skills, thereby “making them better scientists and researchers”. The establishment of community-managed nurseries enabled the research institutes to conserve important local and introduced high-value coconut varieties and promote their in situ and on farm conservation efforts. Also, the establishment and effective management of village-level seedling nurseries, as demonstrated by the communities, could lessen the bur- den on the part of the NARS and the government in establishing and maintaining a formal seed and seedling distribution system. If replicated and scaled-up, this activity could help provide the framework for establishing a community-managed informal seed distribution system which is self-sustaining – a system in which the communities themselves raise and propagate high-value and suitable varieties, providing the necessary inputs, manpower and land while gaining income from them as well. This could free up the NARS and the govern- ment from providing the needed staff and other resources for this purpose and instead re- align them into other research areas that would benefit the poor coconut farmers. Strong linkages between government research institutions and poor coconut growing communities have been established, effectively mobilizing the former to help the latter. This has motivated government researchers to deploy more research results, enhance and ex- pand their coconut-based farming systems research, and link with other relevant research and development organizations. As a result of the three years of research at the village level, CBO members are now more cooperative with and trusting of government organizations to help them. For the govern- 8 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III ment coconut research institutions, this project has given them an important experience and impetus for developing a research agenda to refine and scale up similarly designed poverty reduction research in coconut growing communities in the future.

Impact on the coconut industry As the project was implemented in only three to four communities per country, the impact on the industry would not really be obvious at this stage. However, potential impacts have been recognized. The project demonstrated that diverse high-value products can be made from all parts of the coconut (kernel, husk, shell, wood, water, leaves) and that these could be marketed, thereby expanding the value of coconut as a commodity crop and enhancing the competi- tiveness of its value-added products in the global market. This could expand existing local and international markets and create demand for new products. This diversity of products that can be profitably produced by farmers at the village level serves as an attractive incen- tive for them to plant more coconuts, thereby making coconut production and marketing more equitable and sustainable.

In conclusion, this farmer participatory poverty reduction project has shown that poor co- conut farmers could effectively manage their coconut and associated production systems to improve their lives. The project has also shown in eight participating countries and other member countries of COGENT that the coconut could be conserved and at the same time optimally utilized to help improve the socioeconomic and environmental conditions of poor rural coconut-growing communities and countries. Based on the results of this project, IPGRI and COGENT will convince and help these countries institutionalize and scale-up this poverty reduction research intervention to maximize its benefits and expand its impact. For the results of this participatory impact evaluation by the heads of the eight coconut research implementing agencies, NGOs and the participating CBOs, please refer to Chapter 5 (Project Impact) of this publication.

Sustainability Sustaining impact when a project phases out is a major concern especially of those dealing with action research for development, in this case, reducing poverty through the introduction and testing of various coconut-based income-generating technologies. Under the project, this concern was consciously addressed by adopting and integrating into its design the sustainable livelihoods framework, which essentially calls for identifying and implementing interventions to enhance the five capitals (i.e., human, natural, social, physical and financial) as well as formulating sustainability indicators for each intervention.

Human capital In the project, human capital was enhanced through the conduct of various training and capacity-building activities aimed at two essential objectives: (1) to organize farmers into formal CBOs and strengthen these organizations so that they would be able to effectively manage their own affairs without the help of ‘outsiders’ even after the project terminates; and (2) to build the capacity and skills of individual farmers to undertake various income- generating activities to enable them to fully and profitably engage in coconut-based enter- prises in the future. Of course, building-up the capacity of CBOs and its members through training is just one aspect of enhancing human capital to ensure the sustainability of project impact. Another equally important aspect is giving farmers a sense of self-confidence, self- realization and fulfillment, which goes hand-in-hand with training to tap into their poten- tials and develop their skills, which the project helped achieve. Once these values are in- grained in him, he would have the motivation and the spirit to continue to further develop themselves and thereby contribute to the development of the community in general. SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 9

Natural capital It is an accepted fact that in order for the benefits and impact of this project to endure long after it has terminated, the component central to its strategy (i.e., coconut diversity) will have to be continuously enhanced. Thus, the project has established a mechanism through community-managed seedling nurseries that would assure the continuous on farm propa- gation of high-value and suitable coconut varieties. Catering to both coconuts and various other intercrops, these integrated nurseries would form the platform on which a self-sus- taining, non-government dependent, informal and village-level seed and seedling distribu- tion system could be built on. Such a system, which would benefit both the farmers – as they would also earn from them – and the government – they would free scarce resources needed to maintain such nurseries – would ensure that coconut diversity, as well as the diversity of various cash, food security and feed crops, in the communities would continue to improve and flourish.

Social capital The whole gamut of people, tradition and culture comprise what we call a community’s ‘social fabric’. In the implementation of the project, the enhancement of the social capital was taken into account by introducing activities and technologies that are socially accept- able – those that do not run counter to the existing norms of the people and the community. This ensures that no friction is created between the project interventions and the people who were supposed to adopt them. In Huntu, for example, a predominantly Muslim project site in Indonesia, swine was not introduced as livestock despite market surveys showing that pork has a high demand in the neighbouring villages as this is in conflict with the dominant religion in the area. Efforts like this would ensure that interventions introduced would continue to be supported by the community. Under the project, individual farmers were encouraged to form common-interest groups in undertaking similar income-generating activities, which promoted social cohesiveness and group unity. In the coconut fibre processing community of Tam Quan Nam in Viet- nam, for example, CBO members established a common area for dehusking, decorticating and collecting fibre. Each member of the group takes turns in operating and maintaining the machinery and the work area itself, and as ‘payment’ they get processed coconut fibre which they then bring home to use in producing ropes, mats, geotextile and other fibre- based products. These are then collected and sold by the CBO on behalf of its members, with part of the proceeds going to the further upkeep of the machinery and equipment. Such a practice ensures that that machinery and the processing area are well-kept, which would have been very difficult if only the CBO did the job itself. This has proven to be so successful that they are now constructing another building (shed) to house one more set of fibre processing machinery, even after the project has phased out in December 2004. Additionally, there was conscious effort that technologies introduced by the project would be simple enough that all the members of the family would be able take part in them. In raising poultry under coconut for example, young children could feed the chickens before going to school and after classes. In making single-ply fibre ropes, the technology is so uncomplicated that even the grandparents could learn how to spin coconut fibre, and the machine is very simple and inexpensive that a family could own two or more units. In all, the project interventions and activities promoted unified family work and bound the family closer together with the common objective of contributing to the upliftment of their plight. Social cohesiveness is vital if continuous community development is to be achieved.

Physical capital It goes without saying that infrastructure, machinery, equipment and other physical facili- ties are important in a technology-based poverty reduction project such as this. Under the project, the physical capital of the communities was enhanced by introducing simple, inex- pensive, village-level machinery and equipment to process coconuts into high-value, mar- 10 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III ketable products. This was a strategy adopted by the project to ensure that successful tech- nologies would easily be replicated, adapted and expanded by the communities themselves at minimal cost but with maximum benefit to its constituents, even when the project ended. The project also promoted the interchange of technologies between and among coun- tries. The Vietnam model of the simple single-ply rope making machine could now be seen in other countries which participated in the project and who did not have this machine before. Another example is the simple coconut virgin oil extracting machine of Sri Lanka, which has been disseminated to other countries as well. Some of these technologies and machines, shared in good faith by countries, have been modified and adapted to suit the local conditions of the communities, usually through the initiative of the CBOs themselves and with some support from the national implementing agencies. These simple but highly efficient and effective technologies, machinery and equipment would provide the motiva- tion for the communities and the farmers to continue to adopt them since they provide additional income at minimum cost – an almost no lose situation for them. To protect the interest of the inventors or developers of these village-level machineries and equipment, a Material Transfer Agreement which binds recipients not to patent these resources has been developed by IPGRI-COGENT. Also, because of the project’s achievements, the local government units have taken no- tice of the project sites that some of them provided the needed infrastructure to support their development. Some have given diesel-powered generators to run the dehusking and deco- rticating machinery provided by the project, while others have improved the farm to market roads going in and out of the project sites to help farmers transport their products. Others have also promised to install transformers to provide three-phase electrical line to a project site so that the CBO members could cheaply operate coconut processing machinery which presently runs on a diesel generator. These physical and infrastructure improvements would go a long way in making sure that the project’s interventions and impact would continue.

Financial capital One of the main reasons why small-scale coconut farmers remain poor is because they have very limited access to financial resources to diversify and invest in higher-return, high-value income generating activities or enterprises. As mentioned, most coconut farmers are marginalized – with no land and collateral to obtain loans and are considered non-bankable by formal lending institutions. This is also the reason why most ‘relief’ or dole-out projects fail – farmers have a very simple concept of money - when you have it, you spend it, without consideration of paying it back since it was ‘given’. Although the project provided funds to the communities, these were mostly in the form of revolving funds for microcredit that the CBO used to loan-out to members which were repaid at nominal interest. At the onset of the project, the CBOs were told that “nothing is free in this project”, that everything would have to be paid back, except training and capacity building. With this principle in mind, the CBOs were encouraged to develop their own microcredit lending system, which would make their revolving fund grow. The establishment of these microcredit systems provided the ‘non-bankable’ farmers access to capital which they used to finance their various coco- nut-based income-generating activities. This initiative proved successful that some CBOs have doubled or almost tripled the original seed money given to them by the project. More- over, the microcredit system inculcated in the farmers a sense of ‘pay back’ – meaning they have to work to repay what they owe and not merely spend their money at whim. Such a system would ensure that farmers have continuous access to needed financial resources to further expand their activities and at the same time catalyze the fiscal growth of the CBO to serve more poor members.

Lessons learned The lessons learned from the PRCGC project were consolidated from the various communi- cations, correspondences and meetings with the Country Project Leaders, Community Co- ordinators and project participants; and from the reports submitted, and discussions with SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 11 other project staff and stakeholders, including partners and collaborators in the project sites. Some of the lessons are not entirely new, and many cut across various topics. There are 33 lesson points, which are listed below and classified under eight major headings:

On implementing the project 1. A special arrangement to expedite the transmittal and release of funds from the Imple- menting Agencies (IA) to the CBOs was necessary for more efficient project imple- mentation; 2. Staff assigned to the project should have been freed of some of their regular institu- tional workload so that they could have focused more on implementing and moni- toring the activities of the project; 3. Formalizing the assignment of staff to the project (i.e., Programme Leader, the Project Leader, Community Coordinators and members of the Technical Support Team), indicating terms of reference, duties, responsibilities and obligations, would have helped mitigate the delays and difficulties caused by unexpected staff movement; 4. Having a senior staff of the IA as head of the Project Management Team (i.e., Programme Leader) was advantageous in terms of project implementation and team coordination; and 5. A comprehensive and exhaustive orientation and levelling off to get a clear grasp of the nature, concept, rationale, strategy, objectives and overall goal of the project could have prevented the confusion as to the true nature of the project that was evident among some project implementers and participants.

On transferring coconut-based income-generating technologies through on farm and off farm trials 6. Different people had different but equally valid reasons and motivations for choos- ing to be involved or not to be involved in certain project-related activities; therefore, not all people tried all the technologies being tested or introduced or, conversely, not all technologies introduced suited all project participants. The reasons and motiva- tions of farmers for testing and adopting or not adopting project interventions need to be further identified and studied; 7. Testing and introduction of improved livestock breeds, specifically of poultry, did not always translate to immediate adoption of the technology by farmers as the latter have a different set of criteria than researchers or scientists in selecting the poultry type they would adopt; 8. Exchange visits were effective mechanisms in promoting and disseminating various coconut-based income generating technologies and in catalyzing in-country and in- ternational partnerships and collaboration; 9. Making people fully understand the purpose and advantages of forming focused groups and letting them do so at their own choice and pace was better than ‘forcing’ them to establish or join a group just for the sake of meeting the project’s require- ments but not really understanding why; and 10. A ‘blue print’ project design was not always suitable or applicable to different com- munities in different countries with highly-diverse peoples and distinct cultures.

On managing community-based organizations 11. The success of the CBO, as with any other organization, hinged much on the leader- ship qualities and dedication of its officers; 12. Since the project both strengthened CBOs in areas where one already existed and established new CBOs in communities where there was none before, it was recog- nized that the former was more advantageous in terms of producing more results given the activities and time frame of the project; and 13. The CBO, to continue to effectively function as a social organization, also needed to earn income to sustain itself. 12 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

On monitoring and evaluating the project 14. Designing a project Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system and its tools without the inputs or participation of those who were supposed to regularly implement them, especially Project Leaders and Community Coordinators, was ill-advised as moni- toring and reporting became unfocused; 15. Limited, and oftentimes difficult, accessibility to some of the project sites posed some challenges to project implementation, monitoring and evaluation; 16. The country project leader and project support/ technical team should be physically located as near as possible to each other and the project sites; 17. The project Community Coordinators should be located in the same community where the project is being implemented; 18. Project IA staff (other than the Community Coordinators) should be extensively im- mersed in the field to get the “feel” of the community and to earn the trust and respect of its members; and 19. Documenting project success stories and lessons are effective approaches in high- lighting critical changes in the participants’ lives, in rallying support for the commu- nities and in learning from past mistakes and successes to make the future, and our- selves, better.

On building the capacity of CBO members 20. Purposeful hands-on training is the most effective method to maximize farmer learn- ing; 21. Men and women have different reasons and considerations in joining project activi- ties. Therefore, training requires gender-specific approaches which take into account such differences; 22. Participation in training activities is not always possible for those who live far from the project community proper; 23. Transfer of technologies within the CBO – members training other members – was a long and often arduous process which largely depended on the kind of the technolo- gies to be transferred; 24. Building the organizational management capacity of both IA staff and CBO officers to implement and manage project interventions should have been given top priority; and 25. Linking the project with providers of training and capacity building support services could make capacity building activities sustainable.

On marketing 26. Encouraging and helping farmers diversify into more than one income-generating activity or enterprise was better than persuading them to pursue just one. This not only provides them with more earning options but more importantly, it spreads out the risks in case one activity fails or if the market becomes saturated with one of the products; 27. Poor transport infrastructure (farm-to-market roads) and facilities negate the benefits realized from increased farm productivity; and 28. Linking with specialized associations or organizations dealing with product and market development was a good approach in developing and promoting the prod- ucts of the CBOs.

On establishing and managing a village-level microcredit system 29. The community microcredit systems that were generally successful usually shared common characteristics, which are: (a) provision of small, non-collateralized loans in cash or in-kind; (b) flexible repayment in cash or in-kind; and (c) with technical backstopping and training support; 30. Employing people who are well-respected and highly-regarded in the community increased the recovery rate of loans; and SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 13

31. An elaborate yet simple screening process for borrowers and applying social pres- sure to collect payments helped in recovering loans.

On promoting coconut diversity (planting of coconut seedlings) 32. Involving the landowners in communities where most farmers are tenants proved to be beneficial in promoting the diversity of coconuts and other crops; and. 33. Land tenure, farm size and perceived benefits were major determining factors in encouraging or discouraging farmers to plant coconut seedlings.

For a more comprehensive and detailed discussion of the lessons learned from the project, please refer to Chapter 6 (Project Sustainability and the Way Forward) of this publication.

Constraints and recommendations

Constraints The identified major constraints of the project were: 1. The delayed release of donor funds to IPGRI and consequently to the implementing agencies which delayed the overall implementation of the project. This was allevi- ated by initiating the project using the counterpart funds of IPGRI and the eight participating national research organizations; 2. The replacement of the project leader of the Philippines in the middle of the project and of Fiji close to the end of the project. This was remedied by the accelerated sup- port to the project through the effort of consultants and the Project Coordinator; 3. Reservation of some countries in sharing their coconut processing equipment, ma- chineries and technologies. This was remedied through the development of a Mate- rial Transfer Agreement (MTA) binding recipient countries not to acquire patents to transferred equipment and machineries. Interest to share technologies was increased by convincing more countries to also share their processing technologies on a recip- rocal basis; and 4. Lack of technical staff from national coconut research organizations to provide ad- equate technical support to the project. This will be remedied in the future projects by negotiating with the implementing agency to provide this much needed technical support.

Recommendations 1. IPGRI and its partner implementing agencies should regularly monitor the status of project assets which were transferred to the 25 CBOs including their use of the project machineries and revolving funds for income generating activities. 2. The activities in the 25 communities as indicated in item 1 above should be comple- mented by additional project activities under the newly approved IFAD-funded Tech- nical Assistance Grant to IPGRI entitled ‘Overcoming poverty reduction in coconut growing communities’ which will involve 15 countries including four of the previous ADB-funded RETA. 3. IPGRI should institutionalize and enhance sustainability elements by linking the com- munities and research organizations with support groups in the public and private sector. 4. IPGRI should scale up the project by helping countries develop their research agenda on poverty reduction in coconut growing communities and loan-based project pro- posals in order to develop a critical mass of research to help the neglected coconut sector. 14 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Acknowledgment IPGRI and COGENT would like to thank the eight NARs organizations, the three NGOs and the 25 CBOs which collaborated with IPGRI to implement the project; IFAD in funding the first initiative which identified initial high-value coconut products and production systems for increasing farmers’ incomes; DFID in supporting the identification and socioeconomic profiling of the 25 project sites; and ADB in supporting the large-scale testing of technolo- gies and strategies, empowerment and capacity building and overall management of the project. Last but not least, IPGRI-COGENT would like to thank the over 17 000 poor coco- nut farmers and socioeconomically disadvantaged women who organized themselves and collaborated with each other to improve their lives. SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 15

Annex 1. List of participating national coconut research agencies, non- governmental organizations and community-based organizations in the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Project

National Research Institutes: 1. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh 2. Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), India 3. Coconut Research Institute (CRI), Sri Lanka 4. Indonesian Center for Estate Crops Research & Development (ICECRD), Indonesia 5. Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Philippines 6. Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam (OPI), Vietnam 7. Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement (MASLR), Fiji 8. Cocoa and Coconut Institute (CCI), Papua New Guinea

Non-governmental Organizations: 1. Banchte Shekha Foundation, Sri Lanka 2. Peekay Tree Crops Development Foundation, Vayalar, India 3. Siyath Foundation, Sri Lanka

Community-based Organizations:

Bangladesh 1. Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore District 2. Chandrapara Coconut Community, Chandrapara, Barisal District 3. Banchte Shekha (BS) Coconut Community, Jamira, Khulna District

India 4. Ariyankuppam Community Coconut Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam 5. Pallikkara Community Coconut Development Centre, Pallikkara 6. Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, Kerala

Sri Lanka 7. Thuthipiritigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Thuthipiritigama, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Northwestern Province 8. Womens Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Western Province 9. Dodanduwa Womens Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Southern Province

Indonesia 10. Kelompok Tani Kelapa Harapan Wori, Wori, Wori District, Minahasa Regent, North Sulawesi 11. Kelompok Tani Kelapa Momosad Nonapan I, Nonapan, Poigor District, Bolaang Mongondow Regent, North Sulawesi 12. Kelompok Tani Kelapa Huyula Huntu, Huntu-Batudaa, Bongomeme District, Donggala Regent, Gorontalo Province

Philippines 13. Malapad Integrated Livelihood Cooperative, Malapad, Real, Quezon 14. Bahay Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental 15. Linabu Coconut Planters’ Association, Linabu, Misamis Oriental 16 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

16. Fleischer Estate Integrated Marketing Cooperative, Old Poblacion, Maitum, Saranggani (associated CBO)

Vietnam 17. Hung Phong/Phong Nam Coconut Communes, Hung Phong and Phong Nam, Giong Trom District, Ben Tre Province 18. Xuan Dong Coconut Community, Xuan Dong, Tien Giang Province 19. Tam Quan Nam Coconut Community, Tam Quan Nam, Binh Dinh Province

Fiji 20. Tukavesi Development Association, Tukavesi, Savusavu 21. Belego Multiracial Farmers Association, Belego, Wailevo, Savusavu 22. Cicia Women’s Group, Cicia Island

Papua New Guinea 23. Murukanam Community Association, Murukanam, Madang Province 24. Transgogol Community Association, Transgogol, Madang Province 25. Last Karkar Community Association, Last Karkar, Madang Province SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 17 : 3 CBOs : : : Vietnam products products members members coconut coconut products leaders 3 livestock 3 crop at at least 100 3 high value 10 officers/ site

Per project ƒ Per project ƒ ƒ At least: least: At ƒ site country Per 2 machines Per project site At least 1 for machinery meat, fibre, or leaf shell, wood product ƒ : 3 CBOs 3 CBOs : : : Guinea products products members members products products leaders leaders coconut coconut products 3 livestock at least 100 3 crop 10 officers/ 10 officers/ 3 high value value 3 high Papua New New Papua site ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ At least: ƒ site Per country 2 machines project Per site At least 1 for machinery meat, fibre, or leaf shell, product wood Per project project Per Per project project Per : Fiji 3 CBOs : : : leaders coconut coconut products members members products products 10 officers/ 10 officers/ 3 high value at least 100 3 crop 3 livestock 3 livestock site Per project Per project ƒ site country Per 2 machines Per project site 1 least At for machinery meat, fibre, shell, leaf or wood product At least: least: At ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ : 3 CBOs : : : products members members products leaders leaders coconut products 3 livestock at least 100 3 crop 10 officers/ 10 officers/ 3 high value Philippines ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ At least: ƒ site site Per country 2 machines Per project site At least 1 for machinery meat, fibre, or leaf shell, product wood Per project Per project : 3 CBOs 3 CBOs : : : Indonesia leaders members coconut products products products 10 10 officers/ at least 100 3 high value 3 crop 3 livestock Per project Per project Per project Per project site site Per country 2 machines Per project site 1 At least for machinery meat, fibre, or leaf shell, wood product ƒ ƒ At least: ƒ ƒ ƒ Target Outputs Outputs Target : 3 CBOs : : : products members members products leaders coconut products 3 3 livestock at at least 100 3 crop 10 officers/ 3 high value Bangladesh ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ At least: ƒ site site country Per 2 machines Per project site At least 1 for machinery meat, fibre, shell, leaf or wood product Per project Per project 1 CBO : : : products products members members products leaders coconut products c/o Peekay Peekay c/o 3 livestock at least 100 3 crop 10 10 officers/ value 3 high Tree (1 site) ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ At least: ƒ site site - project Per site At least 1 for machinery meat, fibre, or leaf shell, product wood Per project project Per project Per India : 2 CBOs : : : (2 sites) c/o CPCRI leaders members coconut products products products 10 officers/ 10 officers/ at least 100 3 high value 3 crop 3 livestock Per project Per project site site country Per 2 machines Per project site 1 least At for machinery meat, fibre, shell, leaf or wood product ƒ least: At ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ : 3 CBOs 3 CBOs : : : Sri Lanka products products members members products leaders leaders coconut products 3 livestock at least 100 3 crop 10 officers/ 10 officers/ 3 high value Per project ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ At least: ƒ site site Per country 2 machines Per project site At least 1 for machinery meat, fibre, or leaf shell, product wood Per project

and responsibilities; responsibilities; and and and management Project Activities (1) CBO management (1) CBO system (2) Microcredit machines processing Each country should should country Each marketable products products marketable officers/leaders and : on members machines extraction ( 5 3 of least at evaluate fibre, meat, for machines & wood leaf shell, products) strengthening of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and incorporated (CBO registered with appropriate government agency) C. Identification of of Identification C. I. CapacityI. Building & Establishment A. B. Trainingof oilD. Evaluation of E. Evaluation otherof Annex 2. Summary of activities and target outputs the eight countries participating in PRCGC Project (January 2002 to December 2004) 18 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III : : : : Vietnam participants participants with at least 20% women & researchers 4 extension workers 100 at least 2

100 participants atwith least 20% women ƒ 100 participants atwith least 20% women 1-3 machines Per projectPer site projectPer site projectPer site at least 2 researchers extension 4 and workers at least 2 & researchers 4 extension workers ƒ Per country Per 1 per project site 1 per project site : : : : Guinea Guinea researchers researchers participants participants least at with women 20% participants participants participants at least with women 20% and 4 and extension workers & researchers 4 extension workers least at with women 20% & researchers 4 extension workers Papua New at least 2 at least 2 100 100 100 100 100 at least 2 ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per country 1-3 machines ƒ Per projectPer site projectPer site projectPer site 1 per project site 1 per project site : : : : Fiji Fiji and 4 extension workers & researchers 4 extension workers least atwith 20% women & researchers 4 extension workers participants participants participants least atwith 20% women participants least atwith 20% women researchers researchers 100 100 100 100 at least 2 at least 2 at least 2 ƒ ƒ Per country Per ƒ 1-3 machines machines 1-3 ƒ ƒ ƒ Per projectsite Per projectsite Per projectsite site project 1 per site project 1 per : : : : researchers researchers participants least at with 20% women participants least at with 20% women participants and 4 extension workers & researchers 4 extension workers least at with 20% women & researchers 4 extension workers at least 2 100 100 100 at least 2 at least 2 Philippines Philippines ƒ 1-3 machines Per country ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per project site Per project site Per project site Per 1 perproject site 1 perproject site : : : : Indonesia participants atwith least 20% women researchers and 4 extension participants participants atwith least 20% women workers & researchers 4 extension workers atwith least 20% women & researchers 4 extension workers 100 at least 2 100 100 at least 2 at least 2 ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ 1-3 machines machines 1-3 Per country ƒ ƒ Per project site Per project site Per project site site per project 1 site per project 1 Target Outputs : : : : researchers participants participants least at with 20% women participants participants least at with 20% women and 4 extension workers researchers & 4 extension workers least at with 20% women researchers & 4 extension workers at least 2 100 100 100 at least 2 at least 2 Bangladesh ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per country Per 1-3 machines ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site projectPer site projectPer site 1 per project site 1 per project site : : : : participants participants researchers researchers participants least at with women 20% participants least at with women 20% and 4 and extension workers & researchers 4 extension workers least at with women 20% & researchers 4 extension workers c/o Peekay c/o Peekay 100 100 at least 2 100 100 100 100 at least 2 at least 2 Tree (1 site) (1 site) Tree 1-3 machines ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site Per projectPer site projectPer site projectPer site 1 per projectsite 1 per projectsite

: : : India (2 sites) c/o CPCRI participants least atwith 20% women researchers and 4 extension workers participants least atwith 20% women & researchers 4 extension workers least atwith 20% women & researchers 4 extension workers participants 100 at least 2 at least 2 at least 2 100 100 ƒ ƒ 1-3 machines machines 1-3 ƒ ƒ Per projectsite ƒ ƒ Per project site: Per project site Per project site site project 1 per site project 1 per : : : :

Sri Lanka participants participants least at with women 20% researchers 4 and extension workers least at with women 20% & researchers 4 extension workers participants least at with women 20% & researchers 4 extension workers participants participants 100 100 at least 2 at least 2 at least 2 100 Per project site Per ƒ ƒ Per country 1-3 machines project site Per ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ 1 perproject site 1 perproject site project site Per products Project Activities inexpensive processing machines from (E) above plans for income- plans for generating activities 1. Farmers’ action plan Women’s2. action plan II. Training Women ofand Farmers coconut High-value A. B. IntercroppingB. C.Livestock production F. DevelopmentF. of action selected of G. Fabrication

SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 19

: : : Vietnam crops crops certified agencies annuals perennial crop farmers involved farmers involved 3 3 types of 3 3 types of at least 1 at least 50 at least 50 SOFRI Other

Per project At least At least 3 different high- value coconut products (one from meat, fibre, or leaf shell, wood) ƒ ƒ At least At least 5 trained farmers (C) item in above Per projectPer site site ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site: projectPer site

: : Guinea Guinea farmers farmers involved annuals annuals perennial crop crops farmers involved Papua New 3 types of at least 1 at least 50 3 types of at least 50 PNGCCRI NARI DAL ƒ Per projectPer site: At least 5 farmers trained (C) item in above At least 3 high- different value coconut products (one from meat, fibre, or leaf shell, wood) ƒ ƒ projectPer site ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site

: : : Fiji Fiji annuals perennial crop crops farmers involved Research Station extension services compound farmers involved 3 types of of types 3 of types 3 Wainigata Wainigata at least 1 at least 50 at least 50 local At least 3 3 least At high- different coconut value (one products from meat, fibre, shell, leaf or wood) ƒ ƒ At least 5 5 least At farmers trained (C) in item above Per projectsite Per projectsite: ƒ Per projectsite ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Per projectsite

: : : farmers farmers involved annuals perennial crop farmers involved crops 3 types of 3 types of at least 1 at least 50 at least 50 PCA Philippines Philippines Per project site Per At least 3 different high- value coconut products (one from meat, fibre, or leaf shell, wood) ƒ ƒ Per project site: Per At least 5 farmers trained (C) item in above ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per project site Per Per project site Per

: : : Indonesia farmers involved annuals perennial crop farmers involved crops University and State Government 3 types of 3 types of at least 1 at least 50 at least 50 Agricultural At least 3 3 At least high- different coconut value (one products fibre, meat, from or leaf shell, wood) ƒ ƒ Per project site At least 5 5 At least farmers trained (C) item in above Per project site: ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Per project site Per project site Target Outputs

: : : annuals perennial crop farmers involved crops farmers involved 3 3 types of at least 1 at least 50 3 types of at least 50 BARI BADC DAE Hort Centre Bangladesh At least 3 different high- value coconut products (one from meat, fibre, shell, leaf or wood) ƒ At least 5 trained farmers in item(C) above ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site Per projectPer site: projectPer site Per projectPer site

: : annuals annuals perennial crop farmers involved crops Development Board University Department farmers farmers involved c/o Peekay c/o Peekay 3 types of at least 1 at least 50 3 types of at least 50 Coconut CPCRI Agricultural Tree (1 site) (1 site) Tree

Per projectPer site: At least 5 farmers trained (C) item in above At least 3 high- different coconut value products (one from meat, fibre, or leaf shell, wood) ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site Per projectPer site Per projectPer site:

: : : India (2 sites) c/o CPCRI farmers involved annuals perennial crop farmers involved crops University (KAU) Agri. University (TNAU) Centers 3 types of of types 3 at least 1 at least 50 at least 50 CPCRI Kerala Agri. Tamil Nadu State Gov’t 3 types of of types 3 At least 5 5 least At trained farmers (C) in item above Per project site Per project site: ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Per project site At least 3 3 least At high- different coconut value (one products from meat, fibre, shell, leaf or wood) ƒ Per project site

: : : Sri Lanka farmers farmers involved annuals perennial crop crops farmers involved coconut seednuts) services centers 3 types of 3 types of at least 1 at least 50 at least 50 CRISL (for Agrarian Per project site Per Per project site Per

At least 3 different high- value coconut products (one from meat, fibre, or leaf shell, wood) ƒ At least 5 farmers trained (C) item in above ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per project site: Per project site Per

Project Activities propagation of quality for materials plant in identified intercrops and (B) above (A) production and marketinghigh-value of coconut products B.Food security crops C.Sourcing and IV. Intercropping Trials CashA. crops III. Marketing Production and Identification, A. D. Feed formulationD.

20 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Vietnam agencies from the government private sectors Authorized Authorized 3 types of livestock involving at least 50 farmers At least 1 feed feed 1 least At per formulation type of livestock At least 1 type type 1 least At each of pasture, legume & fodder, involving at least 50 farmers Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: ƒ

Guinea Guinea & Livestock research Papua New Dept. Dept. of Agri. At least 1 feed formulation per of type livestock 3 types of of types 3 livestock at involving 50 least farmers At least 1 type each of pasture, & legume fodder, at involving least 50 farmers Per projectPer site: projectPer site: Per projectPer site: ƒ

Fiji Fiji & Production Division Animal Health 3 types of livestock at involving least 50 farmers feed 1 least At formulation per type of livestock Per projectsite: Per projectsite: Per projectsite: At least 1 type type 1 least At of each pasture, legume & fodder, at involving least 50 farmers ƒ

dispersal dispersal programme Philippines Philippines DAR cattle Per project site: Per project site: Per 3 types of of types 3 livestock at involving least 50 farmers At least 1 feed formulation per type of livestock At least 1 type each of pasture, legume & fodder, at involving least 50 farmers Per project site: Per ƒ

Indonesia State State Government Center Livestock 3 types of livestock at involving 50 least farmers At least 1 feed per formulation of type livestock Per project site: Per project site: Per project site: At least 1 type of each pasture, & legume fodder, at involving 50 least farmers ƒ Target Outputs

Research Research Institute Livestock Livestock Bangladesh 3 types of livestock at involving least 50 farmers feed 1 least At formulation per type of livestock At least 1 type type 1 least At each of pasture, legume & fodder, at involving least 50 farmers Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: ƒ

Husbandry Department loan banks’ programmes c/o Peekay c/o Peekay KAU KAU Animal National Nabard Tree (1 site) (1 site) Tree Per projectPer site: 3 types of types 3 livestock at involving least 50 farmers At least 1 feed formulation per of type livestock At least 1 type each of pasture, & legume fodder, at involving least 50 farmers Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

India (2 sites) c/o CPCRI Government Centers KAU TNAU State At least 1 feed feed 1 least At per formulation type of livestock 3 types of livestock at involving least 50 farmers Per project site: Per project site: At least 1 type type 1 least At of each pasture, legume & fodder, at involving least 50 farmers Per project site: ƒ ƒ ƒ

Sri Lanka livestock livestock distribution programmes CRISL VRISL Local At least 1 feed formulation per type of livestock 3 types of of types 3 livestock at involving least 50 farmers At least 1 type each of pasture, legume & fodder, at involving least 50 farmers Per project site: Per project site: Per project site: Per ƒ ƒ ƒ Project Activities legumes CBO each by multiplication of quality quality of multiplication livestock for loan or distribution V. Livestock LivestockA. production and fodder B. Pasture, C. Local feed formulation D. Sourcing and Suggestion:should CBOs of possibility the explore linking with appropriate NGOs for this activity

SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 21

Vietnam

nurseries nursery for intercrops and pasture/ fodder/ legumes (national (national language) 3 HY HV 3 2 2 2 coconut 1 integrated 2 TGs 2 EBs • • ƒ ƒ 5 seedlings per 100 farmer/ women participants ƒ ƒ * per year: per year: Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: OPI scientists to characterize coconut in varieties each site Per projectsite Per projectsite

Guinea Guinea nurseries nurseries for nursery intercrops pasture/ and fodder/ legumes TGs/EBs TGs/EBs Papua New 3 HY 2 HV 2 coconut 1 integrated at least 3 ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Survey to be Survey conducted per year: per year: Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: 5 seedlingsper 100 farmer/ women participants ƒ Per project site site project Per Per project site site project Per

Fiji Fiji nurseries nursery for intercrops and pasture/ fodder/ legumes (relevant (relevant languages/ dialects) 3 HY 2 HV 2 2 coconut 1 integrated 2 TGs/EBs

ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per projectsite: Per projectsite: per year: per year: per Per project site Per project site 5 seedlings per farmer/ 100 women participants ƒ * Taveuni Coconut Center Wainigata & Research Station scientists to characterize coconut varieties in each site

nurseries nurseries for nursery intercrops and pasture/fodde legumes r/ dialects) dialects) 3 HY 2 HV 2 coconut 1 integrated 15 15 TGs (local Philippines Philippines Per project site: Per ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per project site: Per per year: per year: Per projectsite Per projectsite 5 seedlingsper 100 farmer /women participants ƒ PCA-ZRC to conduct varietal in surveys each site

Indonesia nurseries nurseries for nursery intercrops pasture/ and fodder/ legumes (relevant (relevant languages/ dialects) 3 HY 2 HV 2 coconut 1 integrated 2 TGs/ EBs ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per project site: Per project site: 5 seedlings per 100 farmer/ women participants ƒ per year: per year: per Per project site site Per project site Per project RICP and CRIEC to scientists characterize coconut each in varieties site Target Outputs

nurseries nursery for intercrops and pasture/ fodder/ legumes dialects) dialects) 2 coconut 1 integrated 3 HY 2 HV 2 TGs (local 2 EBs Bangladesh ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ per year: per year: 5 seedlings per 100 farmer/ women participants ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site: Per projectPer site: Per projectsite Per projectsite BARI scientistsBARI characterize to coconut varieties in each site using the STANTECH Manual

nurseries nurseries for nursery intercrops pasture/ and fodder/ legumes language) language) c/o Peekay c/o Peekay 2 coconut 2 coconut 1 integrated 3 HY 2 HV 3 EBs (local Tree (1 site) (1 site) Tree ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site: ƒ ƒ Per projectPer site: per year: per year: 5 seedlings per 100 farmer/ women participants ƒ Per project site site project Per site project Per Survey to be toSurvey conducted

India

(2 sites) c/o CPCRI nurseries nursery for intercrops and pasture/ fodder/ legumes relevant languages 3 HY 2 HV 2 2 coconut 1 integrated 6 TGs/EBs ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Per project site: Per project site: per year: per year: per Per projectsite Per projectsite 5 seedlings per farmer/ 100 women participants ƒ CPCRI scientists to characterize coconut each in varieties site

Sri Lanka nurseries nurseries for nursery intercrops pasture/ and fodder/ legumes English & & English national language) HVP 2 coconut 2 coconut 1 integrated 3 HY 2 HV 3 TGs (in 1 brochure on Per projectsite Per project site: Per Per projectsite ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ 5 seedlingsper 100 farmer/ women participants ƒ ƒ per year: per year: Per project site:Per CRISL scientists to characterize coconut varieties in each site ) *

be provided by COGENT) COGENT to provide additional budget (except thosewith asterisk 1. Farmers’ protocol (to 2. STANTECH protocol 3. Molecularmarkers - and (HY) yielding high-value (HV) coconut varieties Project Activities Techno guides (TGs) / (TGs) guides Techno Extension Bulletins (EBs) existingcoconut varieties in each project site using: seedlings per year community-managed community-managed nurseries for propagationof: sale & 1 Coconuts Intercrops 2. 3. Pasture/Fodder/ Legumes D. Planting of 5 coconut C. Establishment of VII. Dissemination and Promotion of Research Results Research of Promotion and Dissemination VII. of Development A. VI. Conservation and Enhancement of Coconut Diversity Diversity Coconut of Enhancement and Conservation VI. high- of Identification B.

A. Characterization of Characterization A. 22 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Vietnam Twice a year (semiannual) Twice a year (semiannual) Once per year reportwith submitted At least once every 2 months Oncemonth a reportwith submitted At least twice twice least At per year per site Per projectPer site: projectPer site: Per projectPer site: 3 – 5 in the local and dailies national per year At least At least 1 paper scientific per year At least once a At least once year

Guinea Guinea Papua New Twice a year (semiannual) Twice a year (semiannual) At least twice twice least At per year per site Once per year year per Once with report submitted At once least every 2months Oncemonth a with report submitted Per projectPer site: projectPer site: Per projectPer site: 3 in the local & & local the in 3 national dailies per year 3 scientific scientific 3 papers per year At least once a year

Fiji Fiji Twice a year a year Twice (semiannual) Twice a year a year Twice (semiannual) At least twice per year per site Once a month month a Once report with submitted At least once months 2 every Once per year report with submitted 3 in the 3 in the dailies national year per Per projectsite: Per projectsite: Per projectsite: 3 scientific 3 scientific per papers year Atleast once a year

Philippines Philippines Twice a year (semiannual) Twice a year (semiannual) At least twice per year per site 6 in the local & & local the in 6 national dailies per year Per project site: Per project site: Per Oncemonth a with report submitted At least once every 2 months Per project site:Per Once year per with report submitted 2 scientific papers per year Atleast once a year

Indonesia Twice a year year a Twice (semiannual) Twice a year year a Twice (semiannual) At least twice twice least At site per year per 6 in the local & dailies national year per Once a month report with submitted once At least 2 months every Once per year report with submitted Per project site: Per project site: Per project site: 3 scientific 3 scientific papers per year At least once a once At least year Target Outputs

Bangladesh Twice a year (semiannual) Twice a year (semiannual) At least twice twice least At per year persite Atleast per 2 year At least once every 2 months Oncemonth a with report submitted Once per year with report submitted Per projectPer site: projectPer site: projectPer site: At least 1 paper scientific per year 4 seminarsper year

c/o Peekay c/o Peekay Tree (1 site) (1 site) Tree Twice a year (semiannual) Twice a year (semiannual) At least twice site per year per 3 in the local & & local the in 3 dailies national per year Per projectPer site: projectPer site: Oncemonth a report with submitted year per Once report with submitted At once least every 2months Per projectPer site: At least 1 scientific paper per year 2 seminars per year

India (2 sites) c/o CPCRI Twice a year a year Twice (semiannual) Twice a year a year Twice (semiannual) At least twice per year per site 6 in the local & local the 6 in dailies national year per Once per year report with submitted once At least every 2 months Oncemonth a report with submitted At least 1 1 least At paper scientific year per Per project site: Per project site: Per project site: At least once a once At least year

Sri Lanka Twice a year (semiannual) Per project site: Per Twice a year (semiannual) Per project site: Per Per project site: Per At least twice per year per site At least 2 per year At least 1 scientific paper per year Oncemonth a with report submitted Once year per with report submitted At least once every 2 months Atleast once a year leader with project project with leader technical support team Project Activities leader country project leader and three community coordinators members officers/ leaders leaders officers/ awareness materialsin nationalthe dailies paper about project project about E. Meetings of project of E. Meetings C. Site visits by project project by visits Site C. meetingsD. of Group B. Meeting of CBO VIII. Project Meetings and Site Visits Site VIII. Project and Meetings Meeting CBO A. of E. Field days D. Publication of public C. Publication of scientific B. Seminar/presentation Seminar/presentation B.

SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 23

of every every of Vietnam th 15 June and 15 Dec Every year: Every 30 month

of every Guinea Guinea th Papua New 15June and 15 Dec month Every year: 30

Fiji Fiji of every of every th 15 June and 15 15 and 15 June Dec Every year: Every 30 month month

oject activities in their respective project sites. The country oordinator is changed or replaced, the motorcycle should be turned of every to the implementation of project. If project leader is changed th Philippines Philippines Every year: 15June and 15 Dec month 30 parations, design and printing of Technoguides/Extension Bulletins (with

of every th Indonesia 15 June and 15 15 and 15 June Dec 30 month month Every year: Every Target Outputs

of every every of th 30th June and 30th December of every project year Bangladesh month Every year: 15 June and 15 Dec 30

of every th c/o Peekay c/o Peekay Tree (1 site) (1 site) Tree 15 June and 15 Dec month month 30 Every year: India

of every of every (2 sites) th c/o CPCRI 30 month month 15 June and 15 15 and 15 June Dec Every year: Every

of every th Sri Lanka Every year: month 3 units 2 units - 3 units 3units 3 units 3units 3 units 3 units 15June and 15 Dec 1 unit - 1 unit 1 unit 1unit 1 unit 1unit 1 unit 1 unit 30

2

1

Project Activities financial report of coordinator to project project to coordinator leader of IPGRI to ADB toof IPGRI ADB projectleader IPGRI to The motorcycles are intended for the exclusive use of community coordinators organizing, monitoring and implementing pr X. Provision of equipment A. Computer C. Integrateddonor report B. Technical and and Technical B. B. Motorcycles Motorcycles B. A. Report of community community of Report A. IX. Reporting IX.

The computer and colour printer are for the exclusive use of project leaders official communications/e-mail, report pre coloured cover pages), production of training materials and other public awareness and/or for purposes related or replaced, the said equipment must be turned over to his/her replacement. 1 2 coordinators are expected to maintain and use the motorcycle for purposes related project only. In case community c over to his/her replacement. 24 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III in in Mgt. Mgt. Nursery Farmers Farmers involved Public Public published/ awareness materials** materials** activities and disseminated value in high- Farmers involved involved products products trials trials Farmers involved in intercropping in in trials trials Farmers Farmers involved livestock planted planted on farm farm on Seedlings Seednuts propagated (coconut/ (coconut/ Nurseries Nurseries integrated) integrated) established established No. of training participants* participants* 355 357 3 2500 4289 50 355 23 50 4289 35546 355 357 2500 3 100 1660 3 1700 1152 42 1152 100 1660 1700 60 3 43 100 100 1660 61 571 1700 3 50 39 100 82 1750 125 1660 100 1700 3 33 100 32 1257 453 1919 17 5 461 1000 454 128 553- 2 128 500 50 20 1 5 12 27 596 10630 105 456 500 1 220 910 200 - 5 0 220 0 - 230 315 7000 900 1615 300 120 227 2000 9 1800 27 60 - 320 925 1800 3 20 472 729 1800 - 472 3 - 36 20 82 6975 1496748 1009 100 25722 6727 748107 257 328 9 2227 5 3 325 4980 9 5100 3473 185 210 3473 325 4980 300 115 5100 14 9 1692 3269 15 5600 8800 370 615 8800 1692 3269 75927 5600 63 15 No. of members members

NameCBO of Kelompok Tani Tani Kelompok Kelapa Momosad I Nonapan Bandabila Coconut Coconut Bandabila Community Chandrapara Coconut Community Banchte Shekha (BS) Coconut Community Tukavesi Development Association Multiracial Belego Farmers Association Cicia Women’s Group Community Vayalar Development Project Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Farmers Association Pallikere Community Coconut Dev. Centre Tani Kelompok Kelapa Harapan Wori ent ent g Bandabila, Bagharpara, Jessore Chandrapara, Babugonj, Barisal Jamira, Phultalam, Khulna Tukavesi, Cakaudrove Wailevu Belego Cicia Island Kerala Vayalar, Ariyankuppam, Pondicherry Pallikara, Kasaragod Wori Wori, District, Minahasa Regent Poigor Nonapan, Bolaang District, Mongondow Re of community community of

Country and name name and Country Fiji India Indonesia Bangladesh • • • • • • • • • • • Annex 3. Summary of achievements the project (January 2002 - December 2004) SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 25 in in Mgt. Mgt. Nursery Farmers Farmers involved Public Public published/ awareness materials** materials** activities and disseminated value in high- Farmers involved involved products products trials trials Farmers involved in intercropping in in trials trials Farmers Farmers involved livestock planted planted on farm farm on Seedlings Seednuts propagated (coconut/ (coconut/ Nurseries Nurseries integrated) integrated) established established No. of training participants* participants* 357 260 1/0 3550 - 63 81 3550 - 357 260 59 1/0 197 168 8041 780 328 1287 9900 0/6 7 - 109 386 1/1 16 000 18 672 45 53 125 91 136 324 3 2000 1190 12 136 41 12 1190 39 136 136 324 2000 3 89 126 19 418 9937 3 12338 13 524 358 3000 7757 120 8 3 30 113 226 171 1000 198 1180 11 21 1 - - 198 109 10001000 100 32 1 1000 100 78 1 101 290 1610 740 6589 125 145 583 49 2/0 2446 78 71 1535 1609 129 380 1/1 5/2 27 674 22 728 62 62 910 214 3290 77 334 53 420 410 3481 0/1 63 3305 160 430 0/2 473 378 26 201 No. of members members

NameCBO of Fleischer Estate Estate Fleischer Integrated Marketing Cooperative Linabu Coconut Coconut Linabu Association Planters Kelompok Tani Tani Kelompok Kelapa Huyula Huntu Barem Community Association Transgogol Community Association Last Karkar Community Association Integrated Malapad Livelihood Cooperative ARB Patol Bahay (Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries) Multipurpose Cooperative Dodanduwa Collective Women’s Thuttiripitigama Entrepreurship Development Society Maitum, Saranggani Balingasag, Balingasag, Oriental Misamis Huntu, Bongomeme District, Donggala Regent Murukanam, Madang Transgogol, Madang Last Karkar, Madang Real, Malapad, Quezon Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental Dodanduwa, District Galle Thuttiripitigama, Hettipola of community community of

Country and name name and Country Old Poblacion, Old Linabu, Linabu, Sri Lanka • Papua Guinea New Philippines • • • • • • • • • 26 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III 40 in in Mgt. Mgt. Nursery Farmers Farmers involved 100 Public Public published/ awareness materials** materials** activities and disseminated 88 88 175 value in high- Farmers involved involved products products 319 319 238 trials trials Farmers involved in intercropping 56 56 102 3, Sri Lanka - Vietnam – Indonesia 3); also includes media in in trials trials Farmers Farmers involved livestock 400 2000 planted planted on farm farm on Seedlings 500 5000 Seednuts propagated 0/3 0/2 (coconut/ (coconut/ Nurseries Nurseries integrated) integrated) established established 730 730 513 No. of training participants* participants* 200 447 0/3 3305 3650 58 53 3650 51 3305 200 447 0/3 267 428 3310 200 453 744 2961 6500 17 0/6 100 321 72 410 0 24 37 500 165 150 1397 1000 0/1 163 60 100 103 5715 17392 43/14 65 501 64 521 1593 4039 2005 140 904 No. of members members

associations NameCBO of 25 CBOs/ farmers’ Women’s Savings Women’s Savings Effort Hung Phong/Phong Nam Coconut Community Coconut Dong Xuan Community Nam Quan Tam Coconut Community Wilpotha, Puttalam District Hung Phong & Phong Nam, Giong Trom, Ben Tre Xuan Dong, Tien Giang Nam, Quan Tam Dinh Binh of community community of

Country and name name and Country Additional project fact sheets for each community have been disseminated during the field days in February-March 2003 (India - Some farmers attended multiple training activities Vietnam Vietnam for eightTOTAL countries • • • • * ** (TV and radio) coverage SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 27

Big things come in small plots Project achievements in Bangladesh

Safiul Alam Bhuiyan1, Babul Chandra Sarker2 and Jayashree Kanniah3 1Director and 2Project Leader, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI); and 3Scientific Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

Bangladesh produces an average of 90 000 tonnes of coco- nuts annually from a land area of about 30 000 ha, comprised mostly of homesteads with an average area of 350 sq m. The country presents a special case in that the average coconut landholding could not even be considered as ‘farms’ but rather just ‘plots’, which is one of the main reasons Bangladeshi farmers remain poor. It is under this condition that COGENT, in coordination with the Bangladesh Agri- cultural Research Institute (BARI), implemented the ADB-funded ‘Poverty re- A community-managed coconut seedling nursery established in Bandabila, Jessore, duction in coconut grow- Bangladesh ing communities’ project in 2002. The project aimed to demonstrate that even with small ‘plots’ of land, these coconut ‘farms’ could be made more productive and give farmers more income than they earned from copra. In the first quarter of 2002, community-based organizations (CBOs) were established in each of the selected pilot communities: Bandabila Coconut Community in Bandabila, Jessore District; Chandrapara Coconut Community in Chandrapara, Barisal District; and Banchte Shekha (BS) Coconut Commu- nity in Jamira, Khulna District. These CBOs have been regis- tered under the Social Welfare Department of the Govern- ment of Bangladesh. Farmers who joined the CBOs did not pay membership fees but they were required to compulsory ‘save’ US$ 0.17 a month, which goes to the members’ in- dividual accounts and can be tapped as a common funding pool. As of December 2004, the total CBO membership has reached 325. With the support Women CBO members of Chandrapara Coconut Community weaving single-ply of BARI, the CBOs conducted ropes from coconut fibre using the simple, village-level equipment provided by the market surveys to identify po- project tential marketable products 28 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III that they can produce. Based on the results of these surveys, farmers’ and women’s action plans were developed. The CBOs trained its members in various coconut-based income gener- ating technologies. As of December 2004, a total of 4980 farmers and women participated in training on CBO and microcredit system manage- ment, nursery management, coconut pests and diseases management, live- stock raising and local feed formula- tion, production of kernel-based prod- ucts (coconut candy, cookies and vir- Using the single-ply ropes produced by other members of her CBO, a gin oil), fibre-based products (ropes woman weaves a snowmat which would later be collected and sold by and doormats), and product market- the group ing. As access to capital was one of the main constraints identified by the farmers, the project established a microcredit system and provided the communities with seed revolving funds in cash (US$ 7000) and in kind (machineries and equipment). So far, a total of 325 farmer- members have benefited from small loans provided by the microcredit system for intercrop- ping, livestock rearing and processing of diversified high-value coconut products. Loans have also been given to members for replanting old and unproductive coconut trees. The total loan released to the three communities stood at US$ 6743 and the initial amount recov- ered in just a few months was US$ 1547. Integral to the project is the improvement of coconut genetic diversity in the pilot com- munities. To address this, nine community-managed seedling nurseries have been estab- lished in the pilot sites involving 325 farmers. Seedlings raised and propagated in these

A Bangladeshi woman feeding her family’s chickens procured through the microcredit system established by the project in Bandabila

CBO officers of Chandrapara Coconut Community demonstrating the use of the coconut decorticating machine as other CBO members look on SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 29 nurseries came from seednuts of 18 high-value and high-yielding local farmers’ varieties that had been pre- viously identified through coconut di- versity fairs. The mother palms of these identified varieties were con- served in-situ and paint-marked for identification. In addition to maintain- ing and selling high-quality coconut seedlings, the nurseries also produce quality planting materials for inter- crops. So far, 5100 seednuts have been propagated and sold by these nurser- ies, from which 3473 seedlings have been bought and planted by the CBO members on-farm. To augment farm incomes, CBO members were encouraged to engage in various income generating inter- ventions. Currently, 210 farmers are producing high-value coconut prod- ucts like ropes, doormats, coconut oil and coconut candy; 115 farmers are into intercropping; while 185 farm- ers are raising chickens, ducks, goats and cattle under coconut. Recent sur- veys by BARI indicated that these in- terventions have increased farmers’ incomes by three to five times based on their average pre-project earnings of US$ 12/year from their small plots. BARI partnered with various public and private sector agencies in the country to effectively put in place a support system for the project. These include: the Directorate of Agricultral Marketing, Krishi Katha-Agricultural Information Services, The Daily Star Magazine, Department of Cooperative, Directorate of Livestock, Directorate of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, Directorate of Livestock, Northwest Bangladesh Crop Diversification Project, Regional Agricultural Research Stations of (Top) CBO members of Chandrapara Community, mostly women, listening intently to speakers during a farmers’ field day held in 2004. BARI at Barisal and Jessore, On-Farm (Middle) WSE CBO members making coconut fibre-based snowmat. Research Division of BARI in Khulna, (Bottom) A woman farmer-beneficiary in Bandabila, Jessore with her Department of Social Welfare at cow, goats and chickens procured from the project Khulna, Barisal and Jessore, and the Grameen Bank. Assistance provided by these partners included financial and technical support and advice, provision of resource persons for training, planting materials and animal stocks, public awareness and marketing. 30 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Indian coconut farmers: “Yes, we can do it!” Project achievements in India

Velamoor Rajagopal1, P.K. Thampan2 and Jayashree Kanniah3 1Director, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI); 2President, Peekay Tree Crops Development Foundation (PTCDF); and 3Scientific Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

In India, coconut cultivation is domi- nated by small-scale farmers, 90% of whom have holdings of less than 0.40 ha. These smallholdings, which ac- count for 60% of the total area un- der coconut, are classified as mar- ginal and incapable of generating adequate income for the dependent households. In a bid to help Indian coconut farmers, COGENT collabo- rated with the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) to implement the ADB-funded ‘Poverty reduction in coconut-growing com- munities’ project starting in 2002.

Three pilot sites were chosen: Indian coconut farmers and their families in Pallikara shouting “Yes, we Pallikkara and Ariyankuppam com- can do it” when asked if they can make the project successful in their munities in Kerala State, West Coast community Region; and Vayalar community in Pondicherry District, East Coast Region. Farmers in the project sites were organized into community-based organizations (CBOs): Pallikkara Community Coconut Development Centre (PCCDC), Ariyankuppam Commu- nity Coconut Farmers Association (ACCFA) and Vayalar Community Development Centre (VCDC). As a prerequisite to joining, Pallikkara and Ariyankuppam farmers had to pay a one-time membership fee of Rs 50 (US$ 1.08), while those in Vayalar had to shell out Rs 109 (US$ 2.39). Officers were elected and the CBOs were subsequently registered with the con- cerned government agencies. As of December 2004, there were 1692 ac- tive CBO members, all of whom had been trained in CBO/ cooperative and microcredit system management. With the help of CPCRI, the CBOs conducted market surveys to identify marketable products that the commu- nities could produce, as well as mar- kets where these could be sold. Based on the results of these market surveys, the communities developed farmers’ and women’s action plans for the du- ration of the project. Aside from CBO and microcredit system management, farmers were also trained on seedling nursery A farmer-member of Vayalar CBO proudly showing his intercrops which management, coconut pests and he planted using funds borrowed from the CBO’s microcredit system diseases management, intercropping, SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 31 livestock rearing and local feed formulation, production of kernel-based products (coconut candy, coconut chips, cookies, nata de coco, chutney powder, coconut oil, coconut soap and virgin oil), coconut water-based products (vinegar, tendernut and ‘snow ball’), fiber- based products (ropes, doormats, geotextile, brush, coir dust for planting material and body scrub), shell-handicrafts (cutleries/utensils), and marketing. Some were also trained on vermicomposting and mushroom production. A total of 3269 men and women participants have been trained, with some of them attending two or more training courses. To help the project beneficiaries undertake income-generating activities, the project pro- vided the CBOs with machineries, equipment and seed money (US$ 7200) for their respec- tive microcredit systems, which was supple- mented by the CBO membership fees. The microcredit system provided members with the needed capital and resources to purchase qual- ity seeds or planting materials for intercrop- A Vayalar coconut farmer and his young son with their banana-coconut intercrop. Improving their plight for the sake ping such as pepper, banana, colocasia, cow- of their children is one of the driving forces behind the overall pea, yam, fodder grass, turmeric, pineapple, success of the project in India cassava, vegetables, legumes, upland rice and others. The farmers also borrowed from the fund to buy high-yielding coconut seedlings from the community-managed nurseries and to procure livestock such as giriraja poultry, turkey, chicken, ducks and goats. In Vayalar, the interest rate for a member’s loan is fixed at 10% per annum, with an interest discount of 2% for prompt repayment and a grace period of two months for commencing repayment. In Pallikkara and Ariyankuppam communities, a minimal interest rate of 2% per year is charged against the loans of CBO members. As of Decem- ber 2004, the total loan released to the three com- munities was US$ 12 860 and the amount recov- ered was US$ 6687. To enhance the communities’ coconut germplasm resources, 15 community-managed seedling nurseries, involving 27 farmers, were es- tablished in the three sites. The seedlings raised in these nurseries came from seednuts of 15 local farmers’ varieties that had been previously identi- fied as suitable and desirable based on a farmer participatory characterization protocol undertaken during the farmer diversity fairs. The mother palms of these selected varieties were conserved in situ and paint-marked for identification. So far, 5600 seednuts have been propagated and sold from these nurseries. CBO members have also planted 8800 new seedlings bought from these nurseries and This enterprising woman coconut farmer in Pallikkara introduced vermicomposting (earthworm raising) in their those provided directly by CPCRI. community as source of organic fertilizer for their coconuts and intercrops 32 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

To supplement their farm incomes, 759 CBO members are currently involved in inter- cropping trials; 370 are en- gaged in livestock production; and 615 are into the produc- tion of diversified high-value coconut-based products. Of the total 1744 CBO members engaged in various income generating activities, 43% are women. CPCRI observed that these interventions have in- creased farmers’ incomes by three to five times based on the average pre-project farm earnings of US $ 200/year. To fully help the farmers, Women CBO members of VCDC in Vayalar pounding coconut kernel which they CPCRI sought the assistance would later use to make various coconut pastries and confectionery of various partners, including: the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kerala Agricultural University, Department of Animal Husbandry, State Department of Agriculture, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, National Bank for Agricultural Rural Development, District Cooperative Bank State Planning Board through the Kudumbashree Project and the Coconut Development Board. Assistance extended by these partners ranged from providing counterpart funding to providing resource persons for training and assisting in marketing.

(Below) In the project sites in India, Amaranth are also grown around coconut palms, which are used as vegetables by farm households

(Above) Farmers preparing to market coconut fibre mats they produced using equipment provided by the project to their CBO SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 33

Ray of hope for poor Sri Lankan coconut farmers Project achievements in Sri Lanka

Ajith Dias Samarajeewa1 and Rodolfo E. Coronel2 1Project Leader, Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL) and 2Training Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

There’s hope for poor farm fami- lies in coconut-growing commu- nities to improve their economic well being. This has been proven by the poverty reduction project launched in 2002 by IPGRI’s In- ternational Coconut Genetic Re- sources Network (COGENT) in three depressed villages in differ- ent parts of Sri Lanka. In just two years, the farm families who have been depend- ing mainly on their coconuts as their income source have doubled their incomes on the av- erage, thanks to the practical and doable interventions introduced (Above) Visitors admiring coconut shell- and husk-based high-value products by the IPGRI-COGENT project. produced by WSE CBO members on display during a farmers’ field day held in The project focused on three Sri Lanka in 2004. (Below) Visitors inspecting a vegetable intercrop plot during main strategies. One is the pro- the same event duction of high-value products from the different parts of the coconut such as doormats and other products from the husk; handicrafts from the coconut shell and bracts; virgin coconut oil, white copra, coconut sweets from the kernel; vinegar from the coconut water; coconut sugar from the toddy, and others. The second recommendation is the growing of vegetables and other intercrops as well as the raising of farm animals on the coconut farms. The third strategy is to en- courage the planting of high- yielding coconut strains that are selected by experts right from the communities. This is undertaken through the establishment of community-managed nurseries that are also a source of income for the nurserymen as well as the community-based organizations (CBO) imple- menting the IPGRI-COGENT project. Three CBOs were tapped to implement the poverty reduction project in the three se- lected coconut-growing communities. One is the Wilpotha Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) in the northwestern part of the country. The second is the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneur- 34 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

ship Development Society (TEDS) in northeastern Sri Lanka while the third is the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective (DWC) in the southern part of the country. The three project sites are typi- cal coconut growing villages where the people are so poor, most of them are recipients of the government’s social welfare allowance, the Samurdhi. Many of them did not even make SLR 100 (US$ 1) a day before the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched in 2002. To achieve the objectives of the IPGRI-COGENT project, various A TEDS member feeding her family’s chickens which she obtained as loan in-kind from the CBO’s microcredit system. In Hettipola, as in the two other skills development training sites in Sri Lanka, raising livestock has effectively raised the families’ income programmes needed to empower and improved their nutrition the CBO members were conducted. The CBO officers were trained on strengthening their organizations, especially in instituting a microcredit system to support the money-making projects of the mem- bers. Interestingly, most of the benefi- ciaries of the poverty reduction project are women. At the Wilpotha village, for instance, only 26 men compared to 136 women CBO mem- bers are involved in income-gener- ating activities; in Thuttiripitigama, A WSE officer teaching other women members how to make snowmats. In it is 67 men and 126 women while Sri Lanka, such activity provides additional income for farm households as in Dodanduwa it is 59 man and 279 otherwise idle domestic labour (women and youth) is put into productive women. use The income generating activities recommended by the IPGRI-CO- GENT project have proven to be re- warding to the members. For in- stance, the net income from the pro- duction of vinegar from coconut water is SLR 47.65 (US$ 0.47) per liter. Some 72 liters can be derived from 500 coconuts. Making husk chips used as growing medium for plants can give a net income of SLR 950 (US$ 9.50) per man-day while the production of coconut shell owl can give a net income of SLR 690 (US$ 6.90) per 1.5 man-days. The various coconut fibre-based products produced by the CBOs, including Making virgin coconut oil is an- thawali brushes, colorful snowmats and ropes. Above were produced by other profitable enterprise. It can TEDS’ CBO members give a net income of SLR 909 (US$ SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 35

9.09) per man-day. Making ekel brooms, on the other hand, can pro- duce a net income of SLR 560 US$ 5.60) per man-day. Many of the CBO members are also making profits from vegetable production and animal raising. Chickens and goats are among the favorite farm animals raised by the men and women members. The microcredit system has been instrumental in supporting the money-making ventures of the mem- bers. The loan in kind, has been par- For most farmers in the three project sites in Sri Lanka, selling tendernuts, ticularly effective in the extension of usually by the roadside, remains as one of the main sources of income credit as well as in the collection of from the crop payments. The assistance provided by IPGRI- COGENT has empowered the mem- bers to become more businesslike in their thinking. The trainings con- ducted have brought out some of the hidden talents of the participants. Just like a jobless widow, for instance, who became financially independent thanks to her creativity in coming up with interesting designs for her co- conut shell handicrafts. As a result of the successes brought about by the IPGRI-CO- GENT project, the government agen- cies as well as NGOs have become in- terested in adopting the ideas in other A TEDS CBO member in Hettipola showing his integrated coconut farm to visitors villages. The adjoining communities, particularly, have also adopted the in- terventions introduced in the pilot areas. It won’t be surprising if the gov- ernment will soon adopt the concept as a national programme to uplift the economic status of the many other co- conut-growing communities in Sri Lanka. Coconut, after all, is the big- gest plantation crop in the country characterized by small landholdings. More than 80 percent of the coconut farms are owned by small landhold- ers who are mostly poor and badly need additional sources of income. Farmer testing coconut as crop shade. In Sri Lanka, even the elderly were actively involved in the on-farm conservation of suitable local varieties, which is one of the focal points of the PRCGC project. 36 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Turning things around for Indonesian coconut farmers Project achievements in Indonesia

Doah Dekok Tarigans1, Jeanette Kumaunang2 and Jeffrey T. Oliver3 1Project Leader, Indonesian Centre for Estate Crops Research and Development (ICECRD), 2Project Facilitator, Indonesia Coconut and Other Palmae Research Institute (ICOPRI); and 3Communications Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

Indonesia is the world’s largest grower of coconut, with about 3.96 million hectares planted to the crop. Ironically, Indonesian coconut farmers, mostly smallholders, are considered one of the poorest of the poor in the country, if not in the Asian region. They earn approximately US$ 78.36/year, or US$ 0.22/day, from coconut farming. Realizing the urgent need to help the country’s coco- nut farmers, COGENT, with the Indonesian Centre for Estate Crops Research and De- velopment (ICECRD) and the Indonesian Coconut and Other Palmae Research Insti- tute (ICOPRI), implemented the ADB- funded ‘Poverty reduction in coconut grow- ing communities’ project starting in 2002. Three pilot sites were selected: Wori and Nonapan villages in North Sulawesi, and Huntu-Batudaa in Gorontalo Province. Farmers in the selected sites were orga- nized into community-based organizations (CBOs): Kelompok Tani Kelapa Harapan for Wori, Kelompok Tani Kelapa Momosad for Nonapan, and Kelompok Tani Kelapa Harapan in Huntu. Officers were elected and the CBOs were registered with the appropriate local government agencies. From about 100 initial members, the total membership of the CBOs has grown to 748, with about 65% of them women, all trained on CBO and microcredit management. With the help of CRIEC and ICOPRI, the CBOs conducted market surveys to determine the marketable products they could produce. From the re- sults of these surveys and the livelihood op- tions presented by the project, the farmers and women of the communities drew up their respective action plans. Each CBO established a microcredit sys- tem to provide its members with capital to (Top) Billboard marking the entrance to Nonapan 1, one of the undertake a variety of coconut-based in- project sites in Indonesia. (Middle and bottom) A community- come-generating activities identified in their managed integrated coconut-intercrop seedling nursery, also action plans. The project provided the CBOs in Nonapan 1 with appropriate machinery and equipment SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 37

(Left) CBO officers of Huntu Coconut Community demonstrating to other members the use of a coconut grating machine (Right) Extension officers from ICOPRI training CBO members of Nonapan 1 on the operation of the decorticating machine. Such machinery are being used by the communities to make high-value coconut products to augment their farm incomes for this purpose, as well as Rp 28.5M (US$ 3000) seed money for their revolving fund. Each CBO obtained additional funding from both external and internal sources (i.e., membership fees and member savings). Loans were disbursed to individuals and groups, both in cash and in kind, at nominal interest rates ranging from 8-10%. In only two and a half years, the CBOs’ total revolving fund has increased to about Rp 38.52 M (US$ 4532). To enrich coconut diversity and productivity, the CBOs set up community-managed coconut seedling nurseries to propagate high-yielding, high-value and adapted varieties, as well as seedlings of intercrops like cacao and banana. So far, nine nurseries, three in each site, have been established, which have propagated 6727 seedlings of selected local and introduced varieties. The seednuts were obtained from local farmers’ trees previously iden-

(Top left) Piglets being raised by Wori CBO livestock group for later distribution to other members. (Top right & bottom left) Farmer household beneficiaries of poultry in Nonapan. (Bottom left) A livestock group member of Huntu CBO feeding chickens in the community coop built through funds of the project. The chickens would be distributed later to families of CBO members as loans 38 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III tified as desirable through a farmer- participatory characterization proto- col conducted during diversity fairs. ICOPRI further subjected the selected varieties to molecular marking and COGENT’s characterization protocol (using COGENT’s STANTECH Manual) to ascertain their traits. The mother palms were paint-marked for identification and their seednuts were bought by the CBOs from the farmer-owners. In turn, the CBOs sold the seedlings to members and other farmers or buyers. As of De- cember 2004, some 6975 seedlings have been planted in the communi- Coconut-banana intercrops raised by the intercropping group of Wori ties, with 97% of them surviving in Coconut Community the field. COGENT, ICECRD and ICOPRI, with assistance from other govern- ment agencies, trained the farmers in various income-generating tech- nologies, including producing high- value coconut products, managing nurseries, intercropping, and raising livestock and formulating local feeds. So far, 1009 farmers, with 60% women, have been trained, with most attending several capacity- building courses. The coconut product diversifica- tion component presently involves 100 farmers actively producing co- Huntu CBO members making coconut virgin oil. (Inset) The coconut virgin conut virgin oil, nata de coco, coco- oil produced by the CBO has been given a certification by the health and nut-based candy and coconut fibre industry department of the local provincial government and is being ropes. In nursery management, 107 marketed locally and in Jakarta CBO members are involved in seed- ling propagation, while 748 farmers are growing different intercrops un- der coconut for cash, food security and feeds/fodder. Currently, 82 CBO members are raising swine and poultry to augment their coconut- based farm incomes. From the ini- tial results gathered by the CRIEC and ICOPRI, these interventions have increased farmers’ incomes by more than US$ 1 per day, or about five times their farm incomes before the project. Most of these achievements would not have been possible with- An ICOPRI officer explaining to visitors how the displayed high-value out the help of national partners like products are made during a farmers’ field day in Wori SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 39

the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Estate Crops and Forestry Department, Sam Ratulangi Univer- sity, BPTP-Manado (Research Institute for Agricul- tural Technology Assessment), Agricultural Exten- sion for Technology Transfer, district-level Livestock Extension Services, local women’s associations, pri- vate enterprises and individuals. These partners provided counterpart funding, resource persons for the various training and capacity-building activities, and marketing assistance, among others. The project has demonstrated tremendous im- pact to its target beneficiaries resulting to it being replicated by the Indonesian government in three more sites: Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java; South Lampung Regency, Lampung Province; and Pulau Palas, Riau Province. Proposals for project expan- sion have also been submitted to other donors like the United Nations Development Programme’s Glo- bal Environment Facility - Small Grants Programme

A Nonapan CBO member proudly holding up coconut (UNDP GEF-SGP), the International Fund for Agri- virgin oil produced by her CBO’s high-value products cultural group. The virgin oil is being sold in the local market Develop- as well as in the adjacent towns. At the background are oil expeller equipment provided by the project ment through its national partners ICOPRI and ICECRD (IFAD) and for- eign embassies for possible bilateral funding. The project framework is also currently being considered for integration into the national poverty alleviation programme of the government for adoption in other similar projects throughout the country.

(RightI) A farming couple in Wori with their coconut-peanut-corn intercrops (Bottom right) Curing nata de coco in a shed, also in Wori. (Bottom left) A Vietnam project researcher (in white coat) teaching participants from the three project sites in Indonesia, as well as from ICOPRI, how to make coconut candy. Inset is a sample of coconut candy produced by the participants during the training 40 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Towards a brighter tomorrow for Filipino coconut farmers Project achievements in the Philippines

Rhoda Althea Prudente1, Erlene Manohar2 and Rodolfo E. Coronel3 1Project Leader and 2Project Facilitator, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and 3Training Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

In 2002, COGENT, in collaboration with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) se- lected three pilot communities in the Philip- pines to implement the ADB-funded ‘Pov- erty Reduction in Coconut Growing Com- munities’ project. Subsequently, one com- munity-based organization (CBO) was iden- tified in each community to undertake the project’s component activities. The three se- lected community-based organizations were: 1) Malapad Integrated Livelihood Co- operative (MILCO) in Real, Quezon; 2) Bahay Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries- Multi-purpose Cooperative (BPARB MPC) in Caliling, Negros Occidental; and 3) Linabu Coconut Planters Association (LCPA) in Linabu, Misamis Oriental. The first two CBOs were registered with the Cooperative Development Authority in 2001 and 1992, respectively and the third CBO was registered with the Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippine Government in 1996.

Initial achievements The three CBOs have a total of 383 mem- bers, 55% of which are female. Another sat- ellite community was added during the sec- ond year of project implementation with the 357 members of the Fleischer Estate Inte- grated Marketing Cooperative (FEIMCO) serving as project participants. As of De- cember 2004, a total of 1609 participants have attended various training on coconut nursery management and plant propaga- tion, CBO and microcredit management, processing high-value coconut-based prod- ucts, livestock /feed production and inter- cropping, among others. Some farmers and women attended two or more trainings. (Above, top to bottom) One of the community-managed coconut As of December 2004, there are 334 seedlings nurseries in Sarangani. Some of the senior members farmers and women involved in livestock/ of the Maitum CBO weaving fibre ropes, which are later made into doormats (foreground) and geotextile (background). Real, poultry production trials consisting of Quezon CBO members in a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) chickens, swine, cattle, and in raising exercise SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 41

(At left, top to bottom) Women CBO members of Cauayan making coconut food products. An integrated coconut - intercrop community-managed seedling nursery in Balingasag. High-value coconut products produced by CBO members of Cauayan on display during a projcet field day in the community. Goats being raised as livestock in the Sarangani project site

honeybees and fish; 473 farmers and women are involved in intercropping various food security and cash crops with coconut; and 378 are engaged in processing high-value coconut-based products such as handicrafts and food products. Some farmers and women are engaged in two or more income generating activities. Aside from copra, fresh nuts and toddy, other new high-value coconut products being produced are virgin coconut oil, shell handicrafts, pyroligneous alcohol, sugar, vinegar and various food items from kernel like ‘buko-pie’, ‘bukayo’, boat tart and macaroons. These activities have provided the cooperators additional income, like for example the sugar and vinegar producer who have netted Php15 721.00 (US$314.00) from December 2003 to June 2004. More than 200 farmers and women were involved in the operations of the com- munity-based nurseries. There were seven community-managed nurseries established during the project, five were solely coco- nut nurseries and two were integrated nurseries for coconut, fruit trees and other crops. These nurseries produced a total of 27 674 seednuts of various coconut variet- ies, some were introductions from the government’s Coconut Research Stations and others were taken from selected high- value high-yielding coconut palms in the locality. These local varieties were charac- terized, identified and paint-marked dur- ing the characterization done with the help of the Philippine Coconut Authority using a participatory farmers’ variety character- ization process and the Stantech (COGENT’s standard breeding techniques) protocol. So far, 22 728 seedlings have been planted by the CBO members in the project sites as part of strategy to promote on-farm conservation of coconut diversity. The nurs- eries have also produced more than 7 000 seedlings of mixed species of forest and fruit trees. 42 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Several machinery and equipment have been deployed in the project sites such as coconut shell processing equip- ment, virgin oil expellers (both from Sri Lanka and locally fabricated), mechani- cal sugar stirrer from Thailand and fabri- cated candy stirrer adapted from Viet- nam, other tools for sugar and candy making (also from Thailand and Viet- nam), and equipment for confectionery products. Beating, decorticating machines and other equipment for making coconut fiber-based products like single and double ply ropes, doormats and geotextiles have also been provided in one satellite area. Approximately US$14 076 revolving fund is available from the microcredit sys- tem of the four CBOs (including the satel- lite site). So far, 262 CBO members have availed of the loan amounting to US$4621 for various income generating activities. The CBOs have already recovered 28.4% of this amount and are confident of 100% recovery when the loans mature. The com- bined assets of the CBOs as of December 2004 is around US$22 541. The country project has published and distributed seven technoguides, four CBO project fact sheets and published one ar- ticle in a national monthly magazine. It has made presentations and briefings to seven meetings, conferences and televised interview. The project has distributed 20 technoguides from the PCA’s recent re- search outputs. This public awareness campaign is envisaged to generate inter- est from the government, private sector and other development organizations to provide support, either in expansion of activities within the current project sites or in replicating similar project in other coconut growing communities in the country. It was also aimed at promoting viable technologies that can help other farmers to increase their farm productiv- ity and income.

(Top to bottom) Project billboard of LCPA in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. CBO members of FEIMCO in Sarangani demonstrating their fibre-rope weaving skills during a farmers’ field day. A cash and food security intercrop plot in Real Quezon. Some CBO members trying their hand on operating a beating machine during a training at PCA-Davao Research Centre SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 43

Linkages and collaborations The project has established collaborations with about 14 institutions and organizations (NGOs, local and national government agencies, banks, private sectors, educational institution, UN system and IPGRI network) to access financial, technical and logistical support to pursue its objectives. Details of linkages made could be found in Chapter 2 in the section on ‘Creating and nurturing partnerships and collaborations for project sustainability’.

Expansion Encouraged by the initial successes in the three pilot communities, one satellite area was established in Maitum, Saranggani, as mentioned above. The Fleischer Estate Integrated Marketing Cooperative is now producing coconut fiber-based products, raising chickens, and planting intercrops and new coconut seedlings. Several communities have already ini- tiated baseline survey and development planning as a prelude to replicating the project. These communities are in Nabas, Aklan; Tanjay, Negros Oriental; Sanchez Mira, Cagayan; and Biliran, Biliran.

(Clockwise from right) An officer of the Real, Quezon CBO showing the ampalaya (bitter gourd) being raised by the intercropping group of the organization to Dr Pons Batugal and other members of the country project management team. Members of the Balingasag CBO admiring some of the displayed fibre- and shell-based products from other communities during a farmers’ field day held in the community. Some of the poultry being raised by CBO members in Real, Quezon. Men and women CBO members of FEIMCO in Sarangani making single-ply fibre ropes. One of the community-managed coconut seedling nurseries in Balingasag 44 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Vietnam coconut farmers: Towards being “poor no more” Project achievements in Vietnam

Vo Van Long1 and Jeffrey T. Oliver2 1Project Leader, Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam (OPI) and 2Communications Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

In Vietnam, most smallholder coconut farmers earn an average of VND 13 500 (US$ 0.90)/day, which is below the World Bank’s poverty threshold level of US$ 1/day. In 2002, COGENT, in collaboration with the Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam (OPI), initiated the ‘Pov- erty reduction in coconut growing communities’ project to help the poor coconut farmers in the coun- try. Three pilot sites were selected: Hung Phong Com- mune in Ben Tre Province; Tam Quan Nam Commune in Binh Province; and Xuan Dong Commune in Tien Giang Province. Farmers were organized into a community-based organization (CBO) in each site; the three CBOs were then registered with the People’s Committee and with the Agriculture, Economy, Social Affairs and Employ- ment Department of the district-level government so that they could qualify for government support. OPI supported the farmers in conducting market surveys to identify marketable coconut-based products, includ- A woman CBO member of Tam Quan Nam ing the existing and potential markets for these prod- Commune making doormat from fibre rope ucts. Farmers’ and women’s action plans were drawn produced by other members (at background) up based on the results of the market survey. From about 50 members in 2002, these CBOs are now 453-strong, more than half of them (60%) women. All have been trained on CBO and microcredit management. Initially, the project provided VND 90M (US$ 6000) to the three CBOs as seed money for their microcredit system, which was augmented by counterpart funds from the government and other external sources as well as con- tributions by the CBO members in the form of membership fees and interests on loans. So far, 253 farmers have benefited from the microcredit system, with most of the loans disbursed in kind (e.g. equipment for coco- nut processing, seedlings, etc). About 82% of these loans have already been repaid. In only two and half years, the total revolv- ing fund of the communities have increased to about VND 267.4M (US$ 17 827), or al- most three times the seed money provided by the project. To enhance coconut genetic diversity in Even with an amputated left arm, a member of the Xuan Dong the pilot sites, six community-managed co- Commune CBO is shown doing his part for the community - conut seedling nurseries were established happily sun-drying coconut fibre which was processed from the beating and decorticating machinery provided by the project. in the three communities, which have so SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 45

far produced 6500 coconut seedlings. As of December 2004, 170 CBO mem- bers have planted 3310 seedlings bought from the nurseries, with 95% of them surviving in the field. The seednuts propagated in the nurseries were obtained from farmers’ varieties identified as high-value, high-yielding and suitable through a farmer partici- patory characterization protocol. Mother palms of these selected variet- ies were conserved in situ and paint- marked for identification. OPI also supplied farmers with 10 000 seedlings of hybrids and 4000 seedlings of in- troduced high-yielding varieties to re- place the old and unproductive palms. In preparation for the income-gen- erating activity component of the project, 2961 farmers were trained in producing coconut-based products (single- and double-ply ropes, door- mats and geotextile, brooms, shell handicrafts, candies, snow mats), in- tercropping, livestock raising (poultry, goat, cattle and swine), biogas system establishment and operation, and aquaculture (fish and shrimps). Consequently, 428 farmers, 55% of them women, are now actively en- gaged in producing diversified high- value products like wood- and shell- based handicrafts, single- and double- ply ropes, snow mats, geotextile, shell charcoal, organic fertilizer (from coir dust), coconut candy, virgin oil, brooms, baskets, hats and midrib- based decorative items. Most of these products are exported, while others are sold locally. Additionally, 267 farmers are now successfully raising 514 pigs, 2470 chickens, 6000 fish fin- gerlings, 10 000 shrimp larvae, 49 cows and 45 goats; while 744 farmers

(Top to bottom) In Tam Quan Nam, CBO members take their finished products to a “collection centre” as part of the community’s collective marketing system. A Hung Phong CBO member explaining how his swine biogas setup works, which was funded partly by loans he obtained from the community’s microcredit system. A farmer-participant in Tam Quan Nam tending to his grass intercrop for livestock feed under coconut. The leader of the coconut nursery group in Phong Nam in front of some newly sown seednuts in one of the community- managed seedlings nurseries 46 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III are currently growing various intercrops. Most of the farmer- participants are engaged in multiple income generating ac- tivities. Latest surveys by the OPI indicated that these ac- tivities have not only raised the income of farmer-partici- pants by 3-5 times their pre-project earnings from coconut, but also provided additional job opportunities for previously unemployed or underemployed members of the community, particularly women, the disabled and the elderly. Through the project, the communities have successfully linked with concerned government and private sectors to help them sustain their activities, particularly with the De- partment of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Agricul- ture and Rural Development, and the Department of Tour- ism, the latter for combining coconut artcraft and eco-tour- ism. For marketing, Than Binh, a private exporting com- pany, is helping Tam Quan Nam by buying and exporting their snow mats. Another company, Thuan Hiep, has offered to buy fibre-based products from all the pilot sites and to introduce new product ideas to the CBOs. The initial success of the project made a strong impression not only on the government but also on other communities as well. Hoai Chau, a community adjacent to Tam Quan Nam, has approached the CBO leaders of the latter to help it replicate the project under the principle of ‘farmers helping other farmers’. The local government officials of Tra Vinh and Quang Nai Provinces, on the other hand, are also intent in replicating the project in sev- eral localities in their areas. The national gov- ernment is also considering adopting the project’s strategy in its countrywide poverty reduction programme.

(Above) Coconut fibre production group members of Tam Quan Nam CBO segregating fibre in their communal fibre processing centre. The fibre would later be distributed to other CBO members. (At right, top to bottom) A farmer of Hung Phong commune showing one of his coconut palms which was chosen and marked as a source of high-quality seednuts for the community’s nurseries; some women CBO members of Phong Nam making single-ply fibre ropes; banana interplanted with coconut in Xuan Dong commune; a youth making a coconut midrib basket in Hung Phong SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 47

(Left to right, top to bottom) Making geotextile in Phong Nam. Simple rope-making machinery being fabricated for distribution to CBO members of Tam Quan Nam. Newly planted coconut seedlings intercropped with cassava also in Tam Quan Nam. CBO members harvesting shrimp in Hung Phong. Mother and son weaving single-ply fibre rope in Phong Nam. Coconut seedlings in a community-managed nursery in Hung Phong. Duck raising in Xuan Dong. Producing coconut fibre in Tam Quan Nam 48 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Uniting people to reduce poverty of Fijian coconut farmers Project achievements in Fiji

Kamlesh Puran Project Leader, Koronivia Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar and Lands Resettlement (KRS-MASLR), Fiji

In Fiji, coconut is one of the most important crops. However, due to the over-dependence on copra as the main product, from which farmers derive marginal incomes, coconut has become an almost neglected crop. As the trees are old, farmers are becoming more marginalized socioeconomically and new plantings are not com- ing up to sustain the industry. Though COGENT’s ‘Poverty reduction in coconut growing communities’ Project, COGENT and the Koronivia Research Sta- CBO members of the project sites in Fiji had to clear brushlands adjacent to tion of the Ministry of Agricul- their communities to make way for the establishment of their coconut seedling ture, Sugar and Lands Resettle- nurseries ment (KRS-MASLR), collabo- rated with three communities to test and adapt income generating technologies under a coconut-based farming system. Three communities were selected as project sites: Belego and Tukavesi in the big island of Vanua Levu and Cicia, a small isolated island east of Suva. In Belego, project participants are composed of Hindus, Muslims and native Fijians working together through a CBO called the ‘Belego Multiracial Farmers Association’. In Tukavesi, participants belonging to different tribes are working to establish long-term collaboration to implement the project. Initially, farmers organized themselves into community-based organizations (CBO), which will soon be registered with government organizations, and elected their set of officers. KRS- MASLR assisted the CBOs in conducting a market survey to identify marketable products which then developed action plans to produce these products. There are now 453 CBO mem- bers in the three communities, with about 30% of them women. A CBO membership fee of F$5 (US$ 2.80) is required. All have been trained on CBO participa- tion and microcredit manage- ment. To help coconut farmers test income generating technologies, the project allocated funds for microcredit to support their in- tercropping, livestock raising An MASLR extension officer training Belego CBO members on making geotextiles and community-managed nurs- from coconut fibre ropes SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 49

(At right, top to bottom) A CBO member demonstrating how to operate a single-ply rope-making machine in Tukavesi. In Belego, a farmer teaches a woman CBO member how to make fibre-based doormat. The coconut virgin oil extracting machinery imported from Sri Lanka and installed in Tukavesi (Below) COGENT consultant Engr. Carlos dela Cruz (at left, wearing mask) supervising the installation of the beating and decorticating machines in Tukavesi

ery establishment. Funds contrib- uted by members to develop their CBO’s revolving fund amounted to F$2500 (US$ 1404) from Belegio and F$1300 (US$ 730) from Tukavesi and an equivalent amount (US$ 730) from Cicia. As of December 2004, 454 farmers are involved in inter- cropping trials, 32 in livestock production trials and 17 in the production of high-value coco- nut products. To promote the on- farm conservation of coconut varieties, a community man- aged seedling nursery was established in each community. To date four local and two introduced varieties have been identified by farmers for planting, and in 596 seedlings in Belegio and 461 seedlings in Tukavesi have been planted in farmers’ fields. Three coconut varieties have also been identified as suitable in Cicia, namely: Niu ni Magimagi, Niu Damu and Fiji Tall and 200 seedlings of these have been planted in farmers’ fields. The Fiji project has yet to achieve its full target outputs because of the change of project leader in the middle of the project, the land ownership arrangements that still have to be settled in Tukavesi and the isolated condition of Cicia which limits monitoring and frequent technical backstopping. However, judging from the interest of CBO members, the number of participants in income generat- ing activities is expected to increase. Further strengthen- ing of the Fiji project will generate the needed momentum to achieve all the target outputs of the project over the near term. 50 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Bringing benefits to PNG coconut farmers Project achievements in Papua New Guinea

Will Akus Project Leader, PNG Cocoa and Coconut Institute (CCI), Madang, Papua New Guinea

The project established three CBOs lo- cated in Murukanam, Transgogol and Last Karkar, all in the Madang prov- ince. As of December 2004, the CBOs have a total of 524 farmer-participants, 136 of them women. Each CBO has elected the following officers: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, women representative and a nursery manager. Each CBO now operates a small re- volving fund to support farmers with a fund value totaling U$ 14 179. Train- Billboard of the PRCGC project at Murukanam, Madang Province ing courses conducted to support project activities include CBO manage- ment, establishment and operation of a microcredit scheme, production of high value coco- nut products, intercropping, livestock production and fodder and feed formulation and nursery management. A total of 358 participated in training courses of which 136 were women. A market survey was conducted to identify marketable products as well as new and promising products. These products include coconut pie, coconut biscuit, coconut short bread coconut candies, coconut fibre products, doormats, charcoal, coconut bio-fuel for burners, handicrafts and carvings. The project machinery include nine locally-built virgin oil screw presses and one filtra- tion unit for filtering the oil, two imported oil expellers (table and floor type screw press), one oil extraction machine (TINYTECH model) imported from India, and a fibre processing machine imported from the Philippines. Income generating activities are mainly community based and are centered on the inte- grated plant nursery involving propagation and selling of planting materials. Other income sources are vegetable sales from the coconut-based intercropping. Women participants are now able to produce and sell coconut cooking oil, body oil, soap and artifacts. The mar- kets for products such as the coco- nut soap, coconut cooking oil, coco- nut hair oil, coconut stock feed have increased in the three sites. There were 418 participants in intercopping and 126 in livestock tri- als and 89 in the production of high- value products. Cash crops grown are coconut, cocoa and vanilla. Ev- ery farmer is involved in production of food security crops, such as taro, yams, cassava, banana and veg- Murukanam CBO members listening intently during a project orientation meeting held in their community by CCI staff SECTION 1: Summary of Project Achievements and Impact 51

(Clockwise from below) A woman CBO member feeding her ducks which were obtained from the CBO’s microcredit system. The community-managed coconut seedling nursery established in Murukanam. Coconut seedling nursery in Transgogol. A CBO-established cacao intercrop seedling nursery, also in Murukanam

etables. Four livestock species totaling 299 heads (ani- mals and poultry) are being integrated with 126 farm- ers involved. The livestock species being grown are goat, rabbit, chickens and ducks. In the past, they sold whole coconut fruits; today farmers and women mem- bers can convert it to various products for household consumption and sale. They could now improve their nutrition from eggs, milk and meat derived from their poultry and livestock. Ten local coconut varieties have been character- ized and 3000 seednuts propagated in the three com- munity-managed nurseries and planted by CBO mem- bers. They also planted eight introduced high yield- ing/high-value varieties. As of December 2004, they have planted a total of 9937 seedlings in the field. The biggest initial constraint was to get the farm- ers to understand the project concept and accept that the project is theirs and is meant for them to benefit. This constraint has been successfully addressed. The task is now to consolidate all the activi- ties initiated and ensure continuity. The farmers say that this is a great project and project support must continue for another term. Some farmers say they have already benefited while others say they are sure of future benefits. Self confidence and commitment are the key to the success with this project. The CBO members believe that they will continue to succeed. 52 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 53 Section 2 Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework

• Organizing farmers and communities to catalyze project activities • Investing in the future through village-level microcredit systems • Empowering farmers through training and capacity building • Strengthening marketing support for improved livelihoods • Enhancing and conserving coconut diversity to sustain productivity • Income-generating technology interventions: - Enhancing farmers’ incomes through high-value product diversification - Maximizing farm productivity through intercropping - Boosting farm incomes and family nutrition through integration of livestock in a coconut-based farming system • Mobilizing project support through strategic public awareness • Creating and nurturing partnerships and collaborations for project sustainability 54 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 55

Organizing farmers and communities to catalyze project activities Establishing and strengthening community-based organizations

Rodolfo E. Coronel Training Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

The pilot sites of the COGENT-coordi- nated Poverty Reduction Project com- prised of 25 coconut growing commu- nities in eight countries (Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam). The project was specifically designed to be implemented with an organized group in each community for a number of major reasons: 1) it is more efficient to deal with an organized group in terms of project management, and delivery of technical and financial support; 2) a locally-organized group has management system and leaders with better knowledge and under- A Bangladeshi woman CBO member raising a point during one of her standing of the prospective member- organization’s meetings in Chandrapara beneficiaries and their socioeconomic conditions; 3) there are inherent sense of accountability and responsibility with community- based organizations (CBOs) since project activities are carried out by ‘insiders’ themselves; and 4) there is a greater chance of sustaining the project’s benefits, even if the external financial and management support from the project phases out, by mainstreaming the project activities with the regular operations of the CBO. In the 25 pilot coconut-growing communi- ties, the participating CBOs vary in length of operations. For example, two of the CBOs in Sri Lanka had been in operations from 18 to 25 years and one has just initiated formation a year prior to the project and eventually registered during the project period. In the Philip- pines, two CBOs are already in operation five and ten years before the project started. One satellite site in the Philippines has a CBO that has been existing for 15 years before it was included in the project. All the CBOs in the other six countries (Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam) were formed through the initiation of the poverty reduction project and reg- istered during the initial implementing phase of the project. (For details of the participating CBOs, please see Annex 1 of this article). The CBOs are legally registered with appropriate government agencies in each country, except the CBOs in Fiji whose registration are in process. The CBO officers being sworn into office by a local government official during a farmers’ field day in one of the project sites in the Philippines Coconut Research Institute in Sri 56 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Lanka helped organize and register the Thuthiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society (TEDS) with the Divisional Secretariat of the Govern- ment of Sri Lanka under the Special Act for NGO; the three CBOs in Bangladesh are registered with the So- cial Welfare Department of Bangladesh. In Papua New Guinea, CBOs are registered with the Invest- ment Promotion Authority, while in Vietnam, the CBOs are registered with the Provincial Government. One CBO in the Philippines is registered with the Department of Labor and Employment Officers of the Malapad Integrated Livelihoods Cooperative (MILCO) in Real, Quezon, Philippines during one of their action planning meetings. while the other three are registered CBO capacity building activities have empowered farmers’ with the Cooperative Development organizations to plot their own future direction and have enabled them Authority. In India, the Vayalar Com- to integrate their plans into the wider provincial or regional development plans of their respective local governments munity Development Centre is regis- tered with the Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act and the other two are registered with the Registration of Societies Act of Pondicherry and Kerala. The CBOs in Indonesia are registered with the Local Gov- ernment Agency where they are located. These official registrations legitimized the CBOs’ operations and consequently give them entitlements to some privileges from their govern- ments. Being officially recognized, registration also opens up more opportunities for CBOs to access resources and assistance from other support groups/institutions such as NGOs, private sectors, donor agencies and other development organizations. In all the project sites, training on capability development of CBO, and microcredit es- tablishment and operation, among others were held to strengthen the management and resource capacity of established CBOs, and build the capability of the newly established ones. Where opportunity is possible, an on-the-job-training or technical backstopping is in- placed. These trainings were conducted by the designated project implementing agencies in collaboration with concerned local and international organizations. For example, the Women’s Savings Effort of Sri Lanka is being backstopped by staff from the Voluntary Service Over- seas (VSO) and the Dodanduwa Womens Collective (DWC) is being supported by the Siyath Foundation. The Vayalar Community Development Center in India is directly being sup- ported by Peekay Tree Crops Development Foundation, and the community pilot site in

Above are two sample PRA tools prepared by the CBOs to help them in implementing the project efficiently. At left is a resource map preared by members of the Linabu project site in the Philippines, while at right is a workplan matrix of the Wori community CBO in Indonesia SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 57

Jamira, Bangladesh is being sup- ported by an NGO, Banchte Shekha. The number of officers in each CBO varies across countries, from four (Bangladesh) to thirteen (In- dia). It also varies within country, from five to nine in Vietnam and seven to thirteen in the Philippines. Majority of the CBO members owned the land they till except in Fiji where lands are mostly com- munal and freehold, and in the Philippines where around 49 mem- bers are tenants and 104 farmers in one site (Fleischer Estate Inte- grated Multi-purpose Cooperative) A project orientation meeting of the Hung Phong CBO in Vietnam are collective owners of approxi- mately 217.4 hectares of an estate land. The total membership of the 25 CBOs is 5715, around 48% are male and 52% female. To become a member, some of the CBOs require a one time membership fee from US$0.80 (Sri Lanka) to US$10 (Philippines). Some of them, however, do not require membership fee as in Vietnam and in Bangladesh. Membership savings are largely voluntary (Fiji, India, and Papua New Guinea). Vietnam CBOs do not have savings mechanism, but some CBOs directly re- quire their members to save. For example in the Philippines, the Malapad Integrated Liveli- hood Cooperative requires US$0.90 monthly savings from each member. In Sri Lanka, the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective requires automatic savings from member-borrowers and in Bangladesh US$0.17 saving is required for every member every month. The CBOs provide support services to the community members, among these are: 1) loan assistance for income-generating activities; 2) establishment of the community-managed nurs- eries; 3) provision or sourcing of production inputs such as quality planting materials; 4) in- house training on viable coconut-based farming systems; 5) collective processing of coconut products; 6) marketing support services for members’ products; and 7) characterizing and maintaining diversity of local coconut cultivars through organization of diversity fairs and propagation of various types of coconut seedlings. With the existence of capable CBOs, the project sustainability is assured with the organized group beneficiaries’ access to technical and financial support from local and other external or- ganizations, as manifested by the amount of additional revolv- ing loan fund generated by the CBOs amounting to US$ 55 563 and the technical training ac- tivities and other facilities pro- vided by a number of govern- ment and non-government or- ganizations to the CBO mem- bers.

CBO meeting of the Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) in Wilpotha, Sri Lanka during a field day held there 58 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III Linkages Tenant Land ownership Owner Office Office Term of 4 1 year 100 year nil 14 4 1 4 1 year 100 year nil 14 4 1 4 1 year 100 year nil 14 4 1 15 3 years 258 258 years 97 6 3 15 15 3 years years 72 166 5 3 15 No. of Officers Officers month month month month month month month month every 3 months months Savings Savings fee US$9.00 voluntary 5 1 year 226 year - US$9.00 voluntary 5 6 1 US$0.60 US$0.10/ US$1.08 Voluntary 13 3 years 320 320 US$2.39 years - Not required 9 Voluntary US$1.08 472 3 13 years - 11 9 Voluntary US$1.08 3 13 1 year 850 nil 3 Not required US$0.17/ Membership Registered with with Registered Authority , PNG , PNG Authority Department of of Department Bangladesh Agency Agency Charitable Societies Act of Act Societies Pondicherry of Act Societies Kerala F

M

136 93 43 43 93 136 -ditto- Promotion Investment US$0.10 years 226 196 30 Voluntary 61 15 198 185 3 75 13 4 -ditto- US$6.00 voluntary year 6 198 1 - 6 355 243 112 -ditto- US$0.60 US$0.10 100 20 80 Social Welfare Social 100 20 80 100 17 83 -ditto- required US$0.17/ Not 257 150 107 Local Government Local 257 150 107 100 71 29 -ditto- US$9.00 voluntary year 4 64 1 - 5 125 15 110 125 15 -ditto- required US$0.17/ Not 128 105 71 34 93 and -ditto- 220 - - 35 Scientificfreehold year required Government -ditto- of Fiji of 2 7 Literary, communal US$2.80 1 900 500 400 Not year US$2.80 2 Registration -ditto- US$2.80 7 320 - - 1 of Not required Registration 472 290 182 6 1 year communal 3 Total Number of Members of Members Number

g Madan , Community Community Huntu, Bongomeme District, District, Bongomeme Huntu, Donggala Regent Murukanam, Madang Madang Transgogol, Last Karkar Nonapan I Nonapan, Poigor District, Poigor I Nonapan, Nonapan Regent Mongondow Bolaang Bandabila, Bagharpara, Jessore Chandrapara, Babugonj, Barisal Wori, Wori District, Minahasa Regent Regent Minahasa Wori District, Wori, Community Jamira, Phultalam, Khulna Tukavesi, Cakaudrove Project Vayalar, Kerala Ariyankuppam, Association Farmers Pondicherry Development CentrePallikara, Kasaragod Association Belego Wailevu Wailevu Belego Association Country, Name of CBOand Kelompok Tani KelapaHuyula Huntu Association Barem Community Trnasgogol Community Association Association Last Community Karkar Momosad Kelapa Tani Kelompok Community, Coconut Bandabila Chandrapara Coconut Community Wori Harapan Kelapa Tani Kelompok Banchte Shekha (BS) Coconut Association Development Tukavesi Vayalar Community Development Coconut Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Community Pallikara Belego Multiracial Farmers Farmers Multiracial Belego Island Cicia Group Women’s Cicia • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Papua New Guinea Guinea New Papua 524 Bangladesh 325 Bangladesh 325 Indonesia 748 India 1692 Fiji 453 Annex 1. Summary list of CBOs established and/or strengthened in the eight PRCGC project participating countries SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 59

4 Linkages - 5 None 11 Tenant Tenant

104 104 124 5 9 5 124 101 44 4 44 101 103 103 100 Land ownership CARP (ARBs Owner Collective beneficiaries)

Office half half year year year year year year every every every every every every Term of elected elected elected only for 5 years years 5 109 - 7 3 years 3 years 3 years, years, 3 2 years, years, 2 BOD half

6 No. of staff staff Officers (BOD) leaders 7 BOD 7 BOD + Directors Directors 9 officers 9 officers years 3 412 8 5 8 officers 8 officers years 3 200 - 5 and 5 mgt 9 Board of 13 officers component component Savings mos. mos. Php50 Php50 every 10 10 every (US$0.90) (US$0.90) before before loan availing + 2% of sales proceeds voluntary 9 BOD + + BOD 9 voluntary Notrequired 7 BOD 2 years, US$5/mo US$5/mo officers 11 year 1 160 - 9 Php 500 (US$9.09) year every 12% int. int. 12% fee Compulsary

Php100 Php100 (US$10) members members associate associate (US$1.80) (US$0.90) (US$0.90) Php100.00 Php550.00 Membership Membership Php50.00 – Not required Notrequired 9 (US$1.80) for $0.80 / annum

Provincial Provincial Government Registered with (Special Act for NGO) and Employment Development Authority Development Authority (CDA)

F 27 71

76 29 M

420 22 398 Divisional Secretariat Divisional 398 420 22 109 52 57 Department of Labor of Department 109 52 57 129 53 76 -ditto- Php50 160 70 90 -ditto- (initial) US$1 357 - - Cooperative 357 - - 145 70 75 Cooperative 145 70 75 200 13 187 187 13 200 -ditto- Voluntary 100 100 100 -ditto- 150 15 - - 135 -ditto- - - - Not required Notrequired - 5 3 years 150 - 4 103 5715 Total Number of Members of Number members members 25 CBOs/

Community Community Dodanduwa, GalleDistrict Linabu,Balingasag, Misamis Oriental Baneficiaries) Multi-purpose Cauayan, Caliling, Cooperative Occidental Negros Development Society Hettipola Thuttiripitigama, purpose Cooperative (FEIMCO), Old Poblacion, Maitum,Saranggani Cooperative Malapad, Real, Quezon Quezon Real, Malapad, Cooperative Puttalam District CommunityHung Phong Xuan Dong,Tien Giang Dinh Binh Nam, Tam Quan Country, Name of CBO and Dodanduwa Women’s Collective Women’s Dodanduwa Linabu CoconutPlanters Association Reform ARB (Agrarian Patol Bahay Thuttiripitigama Entrepreurship Thuttiripitigama Multi- Integrated Estate Fleischer Livelihood Integrated Malapad Women’s Savings Effort Wilpotha, Hung Phong/Phong NamCoconut Phong Nam, Giong Trom, Ben Tre Community Coconut Dong Xuan Community Coconut Nam Quan Tam • • • • • • • • • • • Sri Lanka 780 Philippines 740 Philippines 740 Vietnam 453 farmers’ associations farmers’ TOTAL for countries: 8 TOTAL

Note: Agrarian Reform Farmer Beneficiaries ARB – Agrarian Reform Program – Comprehensive CARP 60 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Investing in the future through village-level microcredit system Establishing and managing community-based microcredit and revolving fund systems

Rodolfo E. Coronel Training Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia

While credit is not an abso- lute solution to poverty, it is essential as one of the effec- tive and popular measures in the ongoing struggle against poverty. Microcredit enables those without ac- cess to formal lending insti- tutions to borrow invest- ment funds to improve their production capacities or to start small business. The potentials and capacity of the poor for entrepreneur- ship are encouraged with the availability of small-scale loans under the COGENT- coordinated poverty reduc- tion project. A microcredit An effective loan repayment or collection system, which is acceptable to and supported system was established in by the community, is vital to the survival and sustainability of any village-level microcredit and revolving fund system each of the 25 pilot commu- nity project sites to provide small loans to needy coconut farmers and for those who would be entrepreneurs too poor to qualify for traditional formal financial facilities. This provides the opportunity for the coco- nut growing communities to be more self-reliant and for the local farmers to be more pro- ductive. Most importantly, the availability of small lending capital enhances employment opportunities for other members, particularly women and capable youth of the farm house- holds. The project allocated revolving funds (loan) for testing income-generating ventures such as crop intensification or coconut-based intercropping, livestock/poultry and feed/fodder production, and processing high-value coconut-based products among others. The funds for microcredit facilities were released to the designated implementing agency of each par- ticipating country, which in turn transferred the funds to the concerned CBOs to support qualified members’ economically productive endeavours. As of December 2004, the reported total revolving fund of the CBOs amounted to US$146 372, 47% (US$68 766) of which came directly from the project, 15% (US$22 043) were contributions from CBO members, and the rest (US$ 55 563) from donors and other external sources (38%) (see Annex 1). Generally, loans are extended to CBO member-borrowers (either in kind or in cash, to individual or group) to engage in the COGENT project’s income-generating activity schemes. Borrowers are charged with appropriate interest rate to cover their operating cost. Interest rates vary across countries, ranging from 5% in all CBOs in Indonesia and Bangladesh to 20 % per annum in one of the CBOs in Papua New Guinea and 18% and 20% in two CBOs in SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 61

Sri Lanka. Other CBOs in other countries charge from 2% to 10% per annum. Vietnam’s CBOs do not charge loan interest at all. Same interest rates are applied for both individual and group loans except the CBOs in Papua New Guinea, which charge different interest rates for individual (10%) and group loan (20%). The member-borrowers pay the CBO either in kind or in cash, whichever is convenient for both the CBO and the member-borrowers. There is, however, differentiation for livestock loans in-kind. For example in Dodanduwa, Sri Lanka, poultry loan is charged 20%, meaning 10 chickens loaned out are paid back by the borrowers to the CBO with 12 chickens of about the same size as those distributed by the project. The loan for goat on the other hand, is charged with 50% interest, or two procured goat is paid with three goats of the same age of the borrowed goat. For cattle, the credit scheme is different. A pregnant cow is loaned out to a member and when the offspring is female (heifer), the borrower just has to return the mother cow to the CBO, in effect the loan is free of interest. However, if the offspring is male, the borrower takes care of the steer until it is ready for sale. The sales proceeds are then divided equally between the member and the CBO. The borrower retains the mother cow until a heifer is born. The duration of loan ranges from 1-2 months in Fiji’s Belego Multiracial Farmers’ Asso- ciation to 1-2 years in the Vayalar Community Development Centre in Vayalar, India. Most of the CBOs have loan duration of up to one year. The loan amount for individual borrower ranges from a low of US$1.80 – US$145.00 in the Philippines to US$38 – US$575 in Viet- nam. Papua New Guinea has the highest minimum loan for individual at US$150/bor- rower. For group loan, the highest range is in Papua New Guinea CBOs at US$300 – US$600 and the lowest is with CBOs in the Philippines ranging from US$36 – 145. Vietnam has no group loan. So far, there are a total of 2704 borrowers provided with loans amounting to US$75 846. Individual borrowers account for 93% of the total, with the remaining 7% treated as group loan. As of September 2004, loan releases by Sri Lanka’s CBOs was the highest representing 48% of its total loan portfolio, followed by India at 17% and Vietnam at 14%. In terms of recovery, the CBOs in Sri Lanka and Vietnam have the highest loan collection rate of 82%. The summary of the salient features of the individual communities’ microcredit system by country are presented in Annex 1. 62 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III Type Type in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind Duration Interest Rangeloan of (Group) Max Max - - 2% 1 year Cash/ Cash/ year - - - - 1 - 2% ------In-kind - - 52 139 5% 1-2 years Cash/ years 52 139 1-2 Cash/ 5% years 69 130 1-2 Cash/ 5% years 52 260 1-2 5% 200 400 12.5%/mo 2-4 mos Cash/ Cash/ mos 2-4 12.5%/mo 400 200 Min in- in- in- in- in- in- in- in- kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind Type Type Duration Interest Interest Range of loan (Individual) (Individual) loan of Range Max Max

Min Min

Total (US$) (US$) loan fund fund loan other From (US$) sources (US$) (US$) share share capital Members Members Nil Nil 730 730 - Nil 730 - 730 - - - - In- - - - 730Nil 730 - - Nil 1404 - 1404 100 200 10%/mo 1-2 mos Cash/ mos 1-2 10%/mo 200 100 Nil 1404 1404 - 1762 162 156 2080 3.30 34.60 5% 1-2 years Cash/ Cash/ years Cash/ years 1-2 5% 34.60 1-2 3.30 5% 34.60 2080 156 162 1762 10.40 1968 151 1817 - 1720 205 1925 10.40 15.60 5% 1-2 years Cash/ Cash/ years 1-2 5% 15.60 10.40 1925 205 1720 Cash/ Cash/ mos Cash/ mos year 10 Cash/ 9160 - - 10 - 5% 1978 - 1 348 1630 1778 - 12 2% - 5% - 4589 6 513 4076 - 12 - 1170 6 10 938 52 1342 22.20 1118 - 224 34.10 1118 - 10% 1-2 years cash 34.10 45.45 10% 1-2 years Cash fund from Loan (US$) (US$) project project Community Community Island Community Chandrapara, Chandrapara, Community Barisal Babugonj, Phultalam, Jamira, Community Khulna Coconut Farmers Association Association Farmers Coconut Ariyankuppam, Pondicherry Development CentrePallikara, Kasaragod Poigor I Nonapan, Nonapan District, BolaangMongondow Regent Bandabila, Bagharpara, Jessore Tukavesi, Association Cakaudrove Development ProjectVayalar, Kerala Wori, Wori Wori District, Minahasa Regent Association Belego Wailevu Wailevu Belego Association Country, Name of CBO and and CBO of Name Country, Cicia Group Women’s Cicia Chandrapara Coconut Coconut Chandrapara Banchte Shekha (BS) Coconut Ariyankuppam Commune Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Pallikara Kelompok Tani KelapaMomosad Community, Coconut Bandabila Development Tukavesi Community Vayalar Harapan Kelapa Tani Kelompok Belego Multiracial Farmers Farmers Multiracial Belego • • • • • • India 14 866 2639 0 17 505 2864 5973 17 156 0 0 518 2864 2639 Bangladesh 5299 • 866 3943 Fiji nil • 589 India 14 • 0 Indonesia 3354 • • Annex 1. Summary of individual project communities’ microcredit features SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 63 kind Type Type in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind in-kind Cash/in- years Duration Duration Interest Range of loan(Group) Max Max - 250 12% Cash/ ------20% Cash/ 20% ------36 145 10% 2 mos-2 36 145 2 10% 300 600 20% 6-12 mos In-kind mos 300 600 6-12 20% 450 600 20% 6-12 mos Cash/ mos 450 600 6-12 20% Min

in- in- in- in- in- in- in- In- kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind Type Type Cash/ year year years Duration Duration Cash/ Cash/ year 1 1 2 Interest Interest Range of loan (Individual) (Individual) loan of Range Max Max

Min Total (US$) (US$) loan fund fund loan other From (US$) sources sources (US$) (US$) share share capital capital Members Members 6186 324 5000 11 510 - - 12% Cash/ Cash/ 12% - - 510 11 5000 324 6186 1411 330 - 1741 150 300 10% 6-12 mos cash 300 600 20% 6-12 mos Cash mos 6-12 20% 600 300 cash In- mos mos 6-12 6-12 20% 300 10% 150 300 8249 6000 1015150 1234 1741 1411 330 - 2967 - - 2967 - - - - Cash/ Cash/ - - - - 2967 - - 2967 1118 - 313 1431 6 18 5% 10 mos Cash/ mos 10 5% 18 6 Cash/ 1431 mos 313 1118 - 6-12 10% 300 150 2996 1191 4187 - 4866 1920 3636 10422 18 145 3500 10% 2 mos – 2 2500 10 000 16 000 - - 20% 2334 2334 - - 2334 3.64 36.40 10% mos 3-15 In- 3909 523.00 3218.00 7650 1.80 36.40 5% 4 mos-1 4 36.40 5% 1.80 3218.00 7650 3909 523.00 fund fund from from Loan Loan (US$) (US$) project 5200.00 8000 20 000 33 200 - 500 18% Community Community Wilpotha, Puttalam District Development Society Hettipola Thuttiripitigama, Association Transgogol, Madang Madang Transgogol, Association Karkar, Madang Last Association Marketing Cooperative Huntu Huntu, Bongomeme District, Donggala Regent Murukanam, Madang Real, Malapad, Cooperative Quezon District Galle Dodanduwa, Reform Baneficiaries) Multi- Baneficiaries) Reform purpose CooperativeCaliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental Association Linabu, Balingasag, Balingasag, Linabu, Association Oriental Misamis Country, Name of CBOand Women’s Savings Effort Effort Savings Women’s Thuttiripitigama Entrepreurship Thuttiripitigama Transgogol Community Transgogol Community Karkar Last Fleischer Estate Integrated Huyula Kelapa Tani Kelompok Association Community Barem Livelihood Integrated Malapad Collective Women’s Dodanduwa ARB (Agrarian Patol Bahay Linabu Coconut Planters • • • • • Philippines 14 076 2443 6854 23 373 23 6854 2443 • 076 Papua New Guinea • 5422 Philippines 14 2755 • 6000 177 14 Sri Lanka • 14 886 10 824 35 000 60 710 • •

64 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III Type Type Duration Duration Interest Range of loan(Group) Max Max Min the time mother cow is to be returned CBO. Type Type e mother cow after a female heifer is born. If male born, the Duration Duration Interest Interest Range of loan (Individual) (Individual) loan of Range Max Max

Min

100% Total (US$) (US$) 146 372 loan fund fund loan

38% 38% 55 563 other From (US$) sources sources

- 2556 6390 32 128 0 6-12 mos Cash - mos - - 2556 128 6390 32 6-12 - 0 - - 15% 22 043 043 22 (US$) (US$) share share capital capital Members Members

47% 3834 3834 3195 - 1278 4473 32 128 0 6-12 mos Cash ------Cash- - Cash mos mos 6-12 6-12 0 128 0 32 575 4473 38 1278 6964 3195 - 3130 3834 - fund fund from from 68 766 Loan Loan (US$) (US$) project

Community Community Community Hung Phong, Giong Giong Phong, Hung Community Trom, Ben Tre Community, Giong Trom, Ben Ben Trom, Giong Community, Tre Nam, Quan Tam Community Binh Dinh Country, Name of CBOand ietnam 10 863 0 6964 17 827 6964 17 0 863 ietnam 10 Hung Phong Coconut Coconut Nam Phong Tam Quan Nam Coconut Interest for livestock paid also in kind: 20% poultry, 50% goat and cattle no interest (member has just to return th 2%for housing loan sold and the CBO member shares 50-50 from sales proceed. The mothers again breed until a female heifer is born, that’s V • fund loan of share Percentage • • countries 8 for TOTAL GRAND associations) farmers’ CBOs/ (25

1 2 SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 65

Empowering farmers through training and capacity building Training and capacity-building activities

Rodolfo E. Coronel Training Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia

Under COGENT’s PRCGC project, capacity-building activities were spe- cifically geared towards empowering resource-poor coconut farmers and socioeconomically disadvantaged women and transforming them from being mere raw materials suppliers to village-level entrepreneurs. The training strategy includes participa- tory methodologies to enhance knowledge, attitude and skills, and ensure maximum participation of all the members of the target communi- ties in income-generating activities. Researchers, extension and develop- ment officers were also trained to en- Country project leaders, project implementers and other participants of able them to effectively provide tech- the training course on poverty reduction in coconut growing communities nical support to the project’s Com- hosted by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) - Davao Research munity Coordinators, participating Centre in 2004 farmers and women in implement- ing various village-level income-generating activities. The Country Project Leaders used COGENT’s generic training manuals in preparing simplified local training materials suitable for their respective countries and project sites (please refer to Chapter 2 of the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities Vol- ume II: Mobilizing for Action). In addition, the implementing agencies in each country coor- dinated with various government and non-government organizations to provide technical expertise in the fields of CBO and microcredit establishment and management, coconut intercropping, livestock/poultry and feed/fodder production, nursery management and pro- duction of high-value coconut- based products, among others. In cases where there were no avail- able local technical experts, the Project Secretariat (COGENT) di- rectly organized training for some of the CBOs on topics such as co- conut fibre-based products, candy and sugar production par- ticularly in the Philippines, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. For the three-year project pe- An extension officer of the Coconut Research Institute (CRI) teaching members riod, a total of 17 392 participants, of a CBO in Sri Lanka on the finer points of beekeeping as a component of a coconut-based farming system approximately 37% male and 66 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

63% female, were trained. The train- ing course on CBO and microcredit management had the most number of participants, accounting for about 28% of the total number of partici- pants, followed by intercropping and livestock production at 23% and 21%, respectively. Specialized training on processing high-value coconut prod- ucts and nursery management and plant propagation comprised 15% and 13%, respectively, of the overall training participants. Participation in A staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar and Land Resettlement the training activities was dominated (MASLR), the project Implementing Agency in Fiji, demonstrating to some by women, from 58% in nursery man- women CBO members of Belego community how to make geotextile agement to 66% in high-value prod- ucts production and intercropping. Other training courses had an average of 64% women participants. Among the participating countries, Bangladesh had the most number of trained project beneficiaries at 4980, which represents about 29% of the total number of CBO members trained, followed by India (3269) and Vietnam (2961). Papua New Guinea had the least number of trained participants (358). A whole range of training materials were used in the courses across participating coun- tries. Materials used included posters, technical manuals, diagrams, flipcharts, pictures/ illustrations, video/films and newspapers. For hands on training, model plots, actual ma- chinery, equipment and products were utilized. Field demonstrations were also provided. Among the participating countries, Vietnam used the most variety of training materials (10 types). Most countries used an average of about four to nine types of training materials, with posters, technical manuals, diagrams, and machinery and equipment as the most com- monly used. The methodologies used in training included role playing, lectures, workshop, hands- on, group discussion, demonstrations, exhibits, research, field visits and farmer exchange. Again, Vietnam had the most variety of training methodologies applied at 10, while Fiji and India employed the least at four and five methodologies, respectively. The rest of the partici- pating countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, PNG and Sri Lanka) employed an average of nine methodologies each. The most commonly used training methodologies across the countries were lectures, group dis- cussions, demonstrations, hands-on and field visits. The number of extension workers, research workers, NGO staff and farmer leaders involved as resource persons in the training courses vary across countries and in CBOs within countries. Vietnam engaged the most number of resource persons with 16, followed by India and Bangladesh with 14 each. The Philippines made use of the services of a total of 12 train- ers in one CBO but engaged only three in its two other CBOs. The summary of training partici- CBO members of the Sarangani project site in the Philippines teaching pants for the three-year project period other farmers how to weave coconut fibre into single-ply ropes using the is shown in Annex 1 of this paper. simple equipment provided by the project to the community SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 67

3 F-2 F-2 F-2 F-2 F-5 F-5 NS-2 NS-3 NS-2 NS-1 NS-2 EW-3 EW-1 EW-6 EW-5 -ditto- RW-9 RW-2 RW-6 RW-3 RW-2 RW-4 RW-9 No report submitted submitted persons persons involved Resource Resource

2 used Training methodologies RP, L, D, FE, FV, FV, FE, D, L, RP, HO, E, RSVGD, HO, FE, D, L, RP, W, GD,FV, RSV L, GD, FV, D EW-2 L, E, W, RSV W, RSV E, L, L, D, FV, RSV L, D,L, HO, E, FV, W, GD, RSV W, HO, GD, D, L, E, FE, RSV, FV

1

-ditto -ditto- EW-3 -ditto- -ditto- -ditto- -ditto- -ditto- -ditto- -ditto- -ditto--ditto- -ditto- -ditto--ditto- used Training materials P, PI, M&E, M&E, PI, P, TM, AP, D, M M&E, F, P, D, PI, TM, AP P, TM, D, D, TM, P, PI TM. M, M, TM. AP TM, M7E, AP P, M&E, M&E, P, D, PI, TM, AP AP, DP, DP, AP, M&E, TM, M F, P,

6 90 10 77 93 35 71 34 31 72 54 54 43 57 20 12 72 10 26 25 44 32 360 360 373 373 419 419 148 148 265 265 103 Livestock Livestock production production - 6 0 6 90 90 10 77 77 93 93 35 71 34 31 31 72 72 49 54 22 22 61 61 20 95 95 19 44 44 360 373 419 265 103 148 Inter- cropping

3 7 4 6 0 2 1 7 14 40 18 92 93 35 71 34 87 88 43 57 16 50 45 57 160 160 103 103 148 148 plant plant propagation Nursery mgt/ Theme/ Topic 34 10 18 22 88 14 20 72 14 17 13 13 16 36 90 17 20 16 32 18 41 18 93 166 186 103 160 160 HVP production production 77 77 20 20 12 90 90 31 31 72 72 38 38 79 36 24 24 40 33 33 28 52 52 35 14 14 13 373 360 419 158 100 400 350 161 161 119 181 CBO/ Micro- credit Mgtcredit 45 45 72 72 92 92 602 160 151 950 665 462 463 290 439 121 151 1377 1377 1546 1546 F -1328 Number 283 M -332 64 114

308 393 305 99 99 232 236 177 Training participants* participants* % Country and name of CBO CBO of name and Country Community Project Farmers Association Development Centre Nonapan I Chandrapara Coconut Community Community Coconut Bandabila Development Community Vayalar Coconut Community Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Pallikere Transgogol Community Association Banchte Shekha (BS) Coconut Cicia Women’s Group Group Women’s Cicia Tukavesi Development Association Association Development Tukavesi BelegoMultiracial Farmers Association Barem CommunityAssociation Kelompok Tani KelapaHuyula Huntu Kelompok Tani KelapaMomosad Wori Harapan Kelapa Tani Kelompok • Bangladesh 29 4980 1350 510 420 1350 1350 7 9 9 7 1350 1350 420 510 1350 4980 Bangladesh 29 • • • • • • • Fiji 11 1919 483 77 453 453 453 4 4 4 4 453 453 453 77 483 1919 Fiji 11 • • India 19 3269 1372 565 285 471 576 4 5 5 4 576 471 285 565 1372 3269 India 19 Papua New Guinea New 116 88 487 59 47 358 2 9 Papua • • • Indonesia 6 1009 175 218 162 245 209 7 9 9 7 209 245 162 218 175 1009 Indonesia 6 • Annex 1. Summary of training participants under the PRCGC project 68 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

3 F-2 F-2 F-2 F-2 NS-2 EW-1 EW-6 EW-2 EW-6 RW-2 RW-2 RW-9 RW-2 RW-8 No report submitted submitted persons persons involved Resource Resource

2 esearch station visit, used Training methodologies s, AP - Actual products, DP L, D, FE, W,D,L, FE, FV, E, HO, GD, RSV L, D, FE, HO, E, E, HO, D, FE, L, FV, W, GD, RSV L, D, HO. FE, FV, FV, FE, HO. D, L, W, GD, RSV L, D, HO,W EW-1

W, HO, GD, D, L, E, FE, RSV, FV L, D, HO,W

L,M, D, FE, HO, W, GD, FV, E, RSV

1

-ditto -ditto- -ditto--ditto -ditto- -ditto- -ditto--ditto- -ditto- -ditto--ditto- -ditto- -ditto--ditto- used Training materials P, F, TM, M&E, D, AP P/I, P, F, M&E, M&E, F, P, D, P/I, TM, RSV, AP, M&I P, M&E, PI, PI, M&E, P, AP D, M&E, P, TM

AP, DP, DP, AP, M&E, TM, M F, P, P, M&E, M&E, P, TM P, TM, TM, P, M&E, D, M, AP, P/I, V, N, DP

- - 5 6 5 5 19 19 39 47 36 64 93 40 43 11 99 40 33 27 60 91 42 45 108 108 179 179 1336 2356 Livestock Livestock production 0 7 18 18 19 11 11 27 13 12 34 34 66 10 10 67 98 40 40 41 58 58 26 26 47 47 46 46 32 91 91 42 20 20 238 303 180 1376 1376 2627 Inter- cropping 8 6 0 0 6 9 12 12 10 14 18 42 58 14 20 20 12 54 30 61 79 69 80 979 979 104 104 150 150 168 168 1330 plant propagation propagation Nursery mgt/ mgt/ Nursery Theme/ Topic 3 4 0 2 43 40 47 46 18 25 24 24 34 66 10 13 65 65 45 71 30 30 60 76 894 168 167 1617 HVP production production 0 8 4 56 56 57 52 52 82 57 38 38 62 20 20 68 68 69 30 67 67 10 10 95 35 35 91 91 42 19 21 143 110 115 150 1794 1794 3080 CBO/ Micro- credit Mgt 19 19 147 334 250 169 950 402 386 369 238 266 268 17 392 4777 2611 2309 4003 3692 4777 2611 4003 3692 392 2309 17 F – 63% 63% F – M - 6382 6382 M - M – 37% 37% M – Number Number F – 11 010 148 265 135 161 59 59 185 45 45 44 44 41 41 233 608 213 Training participants* participants* 7 1287 219 219 7 1287 69 529 205 265 7 9 % RP - Role playing, W – Workshop, L Lectures, HO Hands-on, GD Group discussions, D Demonstrations, E Exhibits, RSV R P – Posters, TM - Technical Manuals, D Diagrams, F Flipcharts, P/I Pictures/Illustrations, V Video films, N Newspaper Percentage participation 28 15 13 23 21 participation 28 15 23 21 13 Percentage Number (Male/ Female) participation Percentage (MaleFemale) / 25 CBOs/ farmers’ farmers’ CBOs/ 25 associations : EW – Extension Worker, RW Research NS NGO Staff, F - Farmer

Country and name of CBO purpose Cooperative Cooperative Cooperative Multipurpose Beneficiaries) Development Society Training materials used: Training methodologies used: Resource Person Fleischer EstateIntegrated Multi- Livelihood Integrated Malapad Reform ARB (Agrarian Patol Bahay Linabu Coconut Planters Association Association Last Community Karkar Community Coconut Nam Quan Tam Women’s Savings Effort Effort Savings Women’s Thuthtiripitigama Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Thuthtiripitigama Dodanduwa Women’s Collective Women’s Dodanduwa XuanDong Coconut Community Hung Phong Coconut Community Phong Nam Coconut Community • Philippines 9 1609 672 267 80 265 325 9 9 9 9 325 265 80 267 672 1609 Philippines 9 • • • • TOTAL for eight eight for TOTAL countries • • • • Sri Lanka Sri • Vietnam 17 2961 490 717 597 642 515 10 10 10 10 515 642 597 717 490 2961 Vietnam 17 • •

1 Demonstration Plots, M&E - Machinery & equipment, M Multimedia (i.e., Powerpoint) 2 FE - Farmer exchange, FV Field visit 3 Note: SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 69

Increasing livelihood opportunities through market research and strengthening of market channels Conduct of market surveys and development of market channels

Menno Keizer Marketing and Economics Specialist, IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia

Lack of market information and access to markets is a major cause of poverty in many coconut grow- ing communities. Because of lim- ited market opportunities, rural coconut producing families often have little alternative than to sell the raw product, copra, which is a low-value commodity. Diversifica- tion of coconut products could re- verse this situation coupled with addressing the marketing issues dominating the industry. The Pov- erty Reduction in Coconut Grow- ing Communities Project therefore was designed to enable farmers to produce high-value marketable Colourful bags and other handicrafts made from coconut leaves and bracts products from coconuts and secure being sold in one of the project sites in Sri Lanka an additional source of income to support their families. Under the project, COGENT made a manual on conducting market research and market channels development to strengthen the capacity of the coconut pro- ducing communities and NARS partners to conduct market research and analysis, develop market strategies, improve access to market information and establish linkages with the buyers. When introducing the project’s CBO members to new livelihood options such as coconut value-adding, livestock raising and intercropping, it is critical to first identify and develop potential markets for the produce before actually engaging in such activities. Therefore a market survey was conducted by designated researchers in each participating community and potential marketable products were identified. The next challenge was to increase the ability of the CBO members to produce the marketable products and learn to access these newly identified markets. Each community selected their own range of products of which they thought would fit best to their capabilities and limitations. Successful entry of a new product depends highly on the organization of the market system and hence, there is no one general strategy which can be recommended or transferred to a community as a ‘package deal’. Each community operates in a different market environment and faces different con- straints and opportunities. Hence, various market strategies have been adopted by the com- munities depending on the examination of the market system. The main strategy that was effective for every community, however, was avoiding products which do not have a mar- ket potential. Table 1 shows a listing of marketable products that have been identified through market research. The products listed per country might differ from community to community within the country. 70 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Table 1. Summary of marketable products identified based on market surveys conducted in each participating country Marketable Products Country Identified

• High-value products (HVP): vinegar, coconut milk, chutney powder, aromatic coco oil, roasted coconut grating & confectionery products, coir products/handicrafts, rope, doormats, tender nut Bangladesh • Intercrops: banana, papaya, guava, vegetables (bitter gourd, ribbed gourd, snake gourd, teasel gourd, aroid, bean, bottle gourd, tomato), potato, spices (chilli, zinger, turmeric) • Livestock: goats (meat), chicken (eggs and meat)

• HVP: coconut shell products, coconut oil, doormats, ropes Fiji • Intercrops: vegetables, taro for the fresh market • Livestock: poultry (meat and eggs), pigs (fattening), sheep

• HVP: coco chips, coconut milk, snowball tendernuts, coconut candies, vinegar, tendernut juice, homemade aromatic coco oil, coconut shell products India • Intercrops: turmeric, pineapple, banana, tapioca, yam, banana, pachouli, pepper, and other vegetables • Livestock: poultry (eggs ,meat), goats (meat and milk), cattle (milk)

• HVP: cooking oil, nata de coco, charcoal Indonesia • Intercrops: banana, peanut, maize • Livestock: chicken (meat and eggs), ducks

• HVP: virgin oil, cooking oil, soap, doormat Papua New Guinea • Intercrops: taro, vanilla, cacao, sweet potato, maize, banana • Livestock: ducks, rabbits, chicken (eggs, meat)

• HVP: bukayo (sweetened grated coconut), buko pie, white oil, coco milk, coco lumber, coco shell products, broomsticks, coco sugar, toddy Philippines • Intercrops: string beans, eggplant, bitter gourd, squash, cassava, banana, citrus, mango, papaya, rambutan, pineapple, lanzones, jackfruit • Livestock: pigs (fattening), chicken (chicks, meat and eggs), cattle

• HVP: doormats, geotextiles, thawashi brushes, broom/broomstick, toddy, virgin coconut oil, husk chips, shell handicrafts • Intercrops: banana, papaya, vegetables, pineapple, Solanum xanthorcarpum Sri Lanka (medicinal plant) • Livestock: goats (meat, milk), chicken (chicks, eggs and meat), honeybee products

• HVP: artcraft from leaves, shell & fibre products, caramel from ripe coconut water, glutinous rice with coco milk, snowmats, coco candy Vietnam • Intercrops: durian, pomelo, mangosteen, cocoa • Livestock and others: goats, pigs, chicken, honeybee products, shrimp, fish

‘Going Dutch’ : How a small producer group entered the fair trade market A small group of people from the Wilpotha community in Sri Lanka received training in coconut shell handicraft making. After selling their products to various Sri Lankan tourist outlets they believed that they had gained enough skills and were able to produce products that meet international standards and they were ready to tap this export market segment. With the assistance of COGENT and Sri Lanka’s Coconut Research Institute (CRI), a link SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 71 was established with a Dutch fair trade importer. Photos of the range of handicrafts were sent to the importer to give them an idea of the product range and product quality. The importer identified two products which were likely to have potential in the Netherlands and which would complement the current product portfolio. The community received an order to produce owls and sailboats made from coconut shell. This first order was small, worth US$ 300, but it has really boosted the confidence of the group to keep up their work and further improve quality while each member is enjoying a fair share of the profit. To keep momentum going the community is being backstopped by a volunteer from the British orga- nization Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). The volunteer assists the community in con- ducting market research, product development, developing market strategies and entering markets. Just recently a second order has been placed valued at US$ 600. Most trade relationships are developed over the years. It usually starts with a small order and over the years, these are increased. An important success factor (besides reliability, correct quality and quantity) is to keep up with changes in consumer preferences. In the handicraft industry, consumer preferences change rapidly as they are prone to fashion. The relation between the importer and the community can be referred to as mutual interdepen- dence. Fair trade organizations also have a stake in maintaining good relationships with their suppliers as this is one of their main market strategies: they want to provide their clients with information about the origin of the products, and they need to be able to ensure that producers receive fair prices and that for example no child labour is involved. There are also examples of other trade relationships that were established within the project commu- nities. Tourists have been instrumental in initiating export of produce in the village of Hung Phong, Vietnam when they saw potential for marketing the coconut shell handbags in their home countries. In other cases, local traders stimulated producers to venture into export through their contacts. However, the case of the Tam Quan Nam community in Vietnam (as presented below) proves it is not always necessary to identify completely new markets for products. As a matter of fact, risks can be reduced considerably if a community can tap the potential of an existing market structure.

Enhancing and utilizing existing fibre networks in Vietnam Prior to the implementation of the project, the Tam Quan Nam com- munity members were already in- volved in rope making from the coconut fibres. Since everything was done manually it was a labo- rious job and production levels were low. The project’s imple- menting agency in the country, the Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam (OPI), and the Tam Quan Nam CBO quickly identified the oppor- tunity of increasing their fibre pro- In Tam Quan Nam, while some CBO members take turns in operating the duction. Thus, when decorticating beating and decorticating machines to produce coco fibre... and beating machines were estab- lished in Tam Quan Nam financed through the microcredit scheme provided by the project, production increased tremendously. Due to their existing rope making experience and the existing market system, the newly introduced technologies were immediately adopted and this triggered a whole community-based industry. Stimulated by this success, the commu- nity has expanded its ‘factory’ with another decorticating and beating machine. In addition, a neighbouring community has shown interest and is in the process of establishing same processing machinery. 72 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

...other members sort and segregate the fibre (right) for later distribution to households in the community. The fibres are woven into ropes (below) and geotextile, which are then marketed by the CBO locally and abroad

The importance of trade fairs During the National Coconut Festival held in Manila, the Philippines, August 2004, high- value coconut products of the various communities were put on display. During this event, entrepreneurs, exporters/importers had the opportunity to observe the various products. Through the trade fair, organizations such as the Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade (APFTI) became interested in one of the products, particularly coconut sugar. APFTI is now assisting the coconut sugar producer, Mrs Luisa Y. Molo, in improving the package material, label- ling and marketing of her products. Luisa was able to embark on this business with the help of the Balingasag CBO microcredit system. In addition, export prospects are being explored for the Korean market, while a local entrepreneur expressed interest in the domestic wholesale marketing of Luisa’s product. By participating in trade fairs, competitors can also be observed. Information can be gathered concern- ing their marketing strategies deployed such as in pricing, promotion and product distribution. This information will assist the communities in devel- oping or adjusting their own market strategies. Although the project has successfully empowered many CBO mem- bers in entering markets with their high-value products, there are still remaining challenges which need to be overcome. One of the main challenges is to ensure that communities are able to sustain their activities and maintain the established market linkages with- out support of the project. What may seem of little significance, for instance, a country project leader helping out with the print- ing of labels for branding, or making a telephone call with the trader on behalf of the community, may well prove to be the critical factor for success. Time will tell, but in the meantime, more capacity building will be required to put in place appropriate local institutions that could deal with such issues in the long run.

Mrs. Luisa Molo and her husband with their prized coconut sugar. Her CBOs’ participation in the coconut trade fair in Manila in 2004 helped her to launch her product nationally and internationally through the help of APFTI SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 73

Conserving and enhancing coconut diversity to sustain productivity Establishment of community-managed seedling nurseries and on- farm planting of coconut seedlings

Jayashree Kanniah Scientific Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

In agricultural development, diversity is needed to sustain productivity. Diversity in ge- notypic and phenotypic characters for yield, adaptation, disease resistance, high-value uses and other traits of the coconut provides stake- holders with a wide range of germplasm that can be used to sustain crop improvement and productivity. In general, the coconut genetic diversity existing in farmers’ fields are seldom reached by traditional research methods and used to address coconut farmers’ problems in terms of providing them with options and op- portunities. IPGRI/COGENT have been mak- ing efforts for developing a global complemen- tary conservation strategy for coconut. IPGRI/ COGENT strongly believe that promoting and conserving farmers’ coconut varieties is a logi- cal approach to sustaining production and in- creasing farm income. It is widely recognized that coconut farm- ers have intimate knowledge about the value of their varieties and indigenous knowledge associated with their sustainable production. And therefore a farmer participatory approach to germplasm characterization will enable re- searchers to better understand traditional va- rieties from both the scientific and farmers’ perspectives. Hence, as a part of COGENT’s ongoing ‘Poverty reduction in coconut growing com- munities’ project, farmer-participants in 24 of the project’s 25 pilot communities in eight Asia Pacific countries have identified and charac- terized 89 important local varieties (Table 1) through farmers’ diversity fairs. Through these diversity fairs, perceptions of the farmers on common varieties, conservation strategies, problems and improvement were documented (Top) A Sri Lankan couple with the coconut seedlings they using a farmer participatory research method- manage in their community’s nursery. (Middle) Mapanget Tall seednuts sown in one of the community-managed ology. During the diversity fairs, farmers’ nurseries of Nonapan 1 in Indonesia. (Bottom) Outplanted brought their best varieties, which were essen- coconut seedlings in one of the project sites in Bangladesh, tially those with high kernel content, as well intercropped with mustard 74 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

(Top left) Farmer participatory coconut diversity characterization. Coconut breeder Mr. Gerardo Santos of the Philippine Coconut Authority - Zamboanga Research Centre (PCA- ZRC) asking farmers of Balingasag community about the characteristics of the coconut they brought during the Diversity Fair held there in 2002. (Top right) Balingasag CBO members holding up their respective coconut varieties which have been ranked as the most preferred by their fellow coconut farmers. Under the PRCGC project, mother palms of varieties selected by the farmers and verified by coconut breeders were paint-marked (right). The seednuts from these palms were propagated in the community-managed nurseries and planted on-farm by the CBO members as their least favourite varieties, which were those with high fibre and low kernel content. Before the project, the farmers only propagated varieties that have high kernel content for produc- ing copra, narrowing the existing genetic pool on farm. Hence, in order to promote on farm conservation of both desirable and supposedly ‘undesirable’ germplasm, COGENT and its project implementing agencies explained to the project beneficiaries that there is no such thing as undesirable coconut if farmers could learn to use and earn income from all parts of this so called ‘tree of life’. Thus, a thick-husk coconut with low kernel content could be profitable by turning its high fibre content into high-value products such as ropes, mats, handicrafts, etc. Through the project, COGENT aptly demonstrated that farmers could earn more in- come by producing diversified, high-value products such as shell, fibre and wood handi- crafts, virgin oil, sugar, etc. from coconut instead of producing copra alone. The project participants were trained on and are now producing various products from all parts of the coconut using ‘simple village-level machinery’ loaned from the project or purchased from manufacturers through the assis- tance of concerned implementing agencies. It is hoped that through this project’s strategy, farmers will finally regard their coconuts as a major economic asset and eventu- ally encourage them to conserve (and even expand) the existing co- conut diversity on their farms. To sustain this strategy, the project promoted the establishment of community-managed seedling nurseries, whereby existing farmers’ varieties with differing traits (i.e. Transporting coconut seedlings in Vietnam. In most communities, the CBOs use whatever means possible to disseminate as many of the seedlings thick kernel content, big nut, etc.) raised in the nurseries for immediate outplanting in the farmers’ fields, and special characteristics (i.e. including delivering them to members drought tolerant, aromatic, etc.), SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 75 and introduced varieties are being propagated by the CBO members. Seedlings are then sold to interested community members at a reasonable rate. The project participants are encour- aged to plant at least five coconut seedlings per year to conserve and propagate the identi- fied important varieties on-farm. Throughout the 25 pilot communities, specific groups within each CBO were formed to manage the seedling nursery. Palms of the selected varieties were paint-marked as in situ sources of seednuts for community-managed seedling nurseries. Mature nuts from the selected varieties are regularly gathered and sown, especially during the dry season. The members then select a suitable space for sowing the seednuts. The se- lected plots are usually cleared secondary forest area or close to the caretakers’ home which are well maintained, wide-open area, near to a water source and free from weeds. The seednuts are laid upright or slightly tilted with its stem-end above the ground. The seednuts are usually two-third buried either on the ground or in polybags. The benefit of the nursery is two-fold: (1) it provides quality seedlings and planting ma- terials to the community; and (2) it promotes and sustains the conservation of traditional and exotic coconut germplasm. COGENT’s ‘conservation through use’ strategy has effec- tively broadened the existing coconut genetic diversity in the 25 project communities. To this end, a total of 65 501 seedlings (from the 89 identified farmers’ cultivars and introduced varieties) have been propagated by the 57 community-managed nurseries established in the participating communities, with 64 521 seedlings planted on-farm by the CBO members (Table 2).

Table 1. Farmer coconut varieties identified and characterized in 24 pilot communities in the eight Asia Pacific countries

Country Project site Varieties characterized India Pallikkara in Kasaragod West Coast Tall, Koottakkani Round Tall, Pallikkere Red Tall, Alakode Tall, Pallikkere Orange Dwarf, Pallikkere Green Dwarf Ariyankuppam in Pondicherry East Coast Tall Green, Sevvelanir Tall, Orange Dwarf, Tall x Dwarf mixed, Koorkane East Coast Tall Green Vayalar in Kerala Elite tall, Orange dwarf, Green Dwarf

Bangladesh Bandabila in Jessore Bandabila Tall 1, Bandabila Tall 2, Bandabila Tall 3 Chandrapara in Barisal Chandrapara Tall 1, Chandrapara Tall 2, Chandrapara Tall 3 Jamira in Khulna Jamira Tall 1, Jamira Tall 2, Jamira Tall 3 Sri Lanka Dodanduwa in Galle District Ran Pol, Thatin Pol, Juan Pol, Muhuriya Pol, Kadawala Pol, Thuththiripitigama in Kurunagala Wariya Pol, Dadella Pol, Bothal Thembili District Wilpotha in Puttalam District Kumbuke Pol, Nuwara Kelle Pol, Tharana Pol

Philippines Barangay Malapad in Real Romano, Niyog, Lubi Barangay Caliling in Cauayan Romano, Niyog, Lubi Barangay Linabu in Balingasag Romano, Niyog, Lubi

Vietnam Hung Phong in Giong Trom Yellow Ta Tall, Green Ta Tall, Green Dau Tall, Yellow Dau Tall, Lua tall, Xiem Green Dwarf, Xiem Button Dwarf, Eo Green Dwarf, Dua Dwarf Xuan Dong in Tien Giang Yellow Ta Tall, Green Ta Tall, Green Dau Tall, Xiem Green Dwarf, Dua Dwarf Tam Quan in Binh Dinh Local Green Ta Tall, Local Green Dau Tall, Xiem Green Dwarf, Dua Dwarf

Indonesia Wori Village in Wori District Wori River Tall 1, Wori River Tall 2, Wori River Tall 3 Nonapan in the Poigor District Nonapan Tall, Kudoi Tall, Mololombog Tall Huntu in Bongomeme District Huntu Tall, Batudaa Tall, Butukiki Tall

Papua New Mukukanam Dibor Tall Murukanam, Sarman Tall Murukanam, Dabor Tall Guinea Murukanam

Transgogol Sinanibun Tall Transgogol, Demerin Tall Transgogol Metiau Tall Transgogol Karkar Yukyuk Tall Karkar, Kurubek Tall Karkar, Kubam Tall Karkar, Niu Garuk Karkar

Fiji Tukavesi Niu ni Viti, Niu Damu, Niu Kitu, Niu Buludrau, Niu ni Magimagi Belego Niu ni Viti, Niu Damu, Niu ni Magimagi Cicia Niu ni Viti, Niu Damu, Niu Kitu, Niu Buludrau, Niu ni Magimagi

TOTAL 89

76 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Table 2. Local and introduced coconut varieties planted in the nursery and on-farm Varieties Number of Seedlings propagated seedling Country Project site Varieties planted on-farm planted in the nurseries on-farm nursery for established sale India Pallikkara in Pallikkere Ordinary Tall, Koottakkani 0 1800 3 Kasaragod Round Tall, Alakode Tall Ariyankuppam in East Coast Medium Tall, East Coast, Tall 1800 1800 3 Pondicherry Green Vayalar in Kerala Elite Tall, Orange Dwarf, Green Dwarf 9 7000 2000

Bangladesh Bandabila in Typica Tall (Green), Typica Tall (Red), Jessore Typica Tall (White), BARI Narikel 1, BARI 1152 1700 3 Narikel 2 Chandrapara in Typica Tall (Green), Typica Tall (Red), Barisal Typica Tall (White), BARI Narikel 1, BARI 571 1700 3 Narikel 2 Jamira in Khulna Typica Tall (Green), Typica Tall (Red), Typica Tall (White), BARI Narikel 1, BARI 1750 1700 3 Narikel 2

Sri Lanka Dodanduwa in Ran Pol, Thatin Pol, Juan Pol, Bothal 900 3290 1 Galle Thembili Thuththiripitigama Ran Pol, Thatin Pol, Juan Pol, Bothal 2340 3305 2 in Kurunagala Thembili Wilpotha in Ran Pol, Thatin Pol, Juan Pol, Bothal Puttalam Thembili 2270 3305 3

Philippines Barangay SYNVAR, Laguna, PCA 15-1, MRD x 1610 6589 2 Malapad in Real MAKT, Aromatic, Pilipog Barangay Caliling SYNVAR, Laguna, PCA 15-1, MRD x 2446 1535 2 in Cauayan MAKT, Aromatic, Pilipog Barangay Linabu Baybay, TAG x MRD, PCA 15-4, MRD x 18 672 13 000 2 in Balingasag MAKT,Aromatic, Pilipog Maitum in SYNVAR, Laguna, PCA 15-1, MRD x Saranggani MAKT, Aromatic, Pilipog 0 3550 1

Vietnam Hung Phong and Aromatic Phong Nam in 1640 2950 2 Giong Trom Xuan Dong in Aromatic 410 0 2 Tien Giang Tam Quan Binh Aromatic Dinh 490 850 1

Indonesia Wori Village in Wori Tall, Mapanget Tall 1496 2227 3 Wori Nonapan in Wori Tall, Mapanget Tall 4289 2500 3 Poigor Huntu in Wori Tall, Mapanget Tall Bongomeme 1190 2000 3

Papua New Mukukanam Markam tall, Renell tall, Sepik tall, PNG Guinea Brown Dwarf, Malayan Red Dwarf, 7757 1000 1 Malayan Yellow Dwarf, Nias Green, Karkar Island Tall. Transgogol Markam Tall, Renell Tall, Sepik Tall, PNG Brown Dwarf, Malayan Red Dwarf, 1180 1000 1 Malayan Yellow Dwarf, Nias Green Karkar Island Tall Karkar Markam Tall, Renell Tall, Sepik Tall, PNG Brown Dwarf, Malayan Red Dwarf, Malayan Yellow Dwarf, Nias Green, 1000 1000 1 Karkar Island Tall

Fiji Tukavesi Fiji Tall, Rotuman Tall 461 500 1 Belego Fiji Tall, Rotuman Tall 596 500 1 Cicia Island Niu ni Magimagi 200 500 0

TOTAL 24 64 521 65 501 57

SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 77

Increasing farmers’ incomes and improving farm productivity through coconut-based income generating technologies Producing high-value coconut products, intercropping and raising and managing livestock

Pons Batugal Coordinator, COGENT, and Senior Scientist, IPGRI-APO

Enhancing farmers’ incomes through high-value coconut-based product diversification Most coconut farmers earn marginal incomes because they only produce and sell the low- priced copra (dried kernel) or the whole fruit which are then processed by the manufactur- ing sector into commercial products for the consumers. COGENT’s previous IFAD-funded project revealed that higher incomes can be generated if the farmers did their own process- ing of coconut into high-value prod- ucts and marketed them without passing through the many layers of middlemen. While the above strategy had po- tential, coconut farmers could not implement it in the past because they needed village-level technologies and machineries, capital and markets to which they had no access. COGENT’s ‘Poverty reduction in co- conut growing communities’ project provided the access to these resource requirements. COGENT initially identified from its member countries the promising and efficient but af- fordable village-level technologies and machineries for coconut process- ing; and evaluated them for techni- cal feasibility, financial viability, so- cial acceptability and environmental safety. The project then developed generic manuals on the production of high-value products and these were translated into the country lan- guage and village dialect, to produce technology bulletins for use in local training. Subsequently, training and actual demonstrations were con- ducted for producing and selling high-value coconut products from all (Top) The trainor and the woman entrepreneur. This Sri Lankan widow parts of the coconut - the kernel, (right) produces coconut shell-based owls and other handicrafts, which husk, shell, wood, water and the she learned through training given by the PRCGC project. She sells these handicrafts locally and also exports them with the help of local businessmen. leaves. COGENT, in collaboration (Bottom) This family’s house in Hung Phong used to be in tatters (inset). with its national research partners, They were able to improve their house, and their plight, by making and selling coco shell handicrafts with help from their CBO and the project 78 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III helped the CBOs acquire the needed machineries. The project also provided capital through a revolving fund to enable the trained CBO members to test various processing options for coconut. A total of 2005 CBO members, 74% of whom are women, have participated in the production of high-value coconut products. The trained CBO members, working as individuals or in groups, produced cooking oil; virgin coconut oil for body and hair lotion; detergent and bath soaps from the coconut ker- nel; ropes, doormats and geotextiles from the coconut husks; cooking utensils and export- able handicrafts from coconut shell and coconut wood; vinegar and sugar from the coconut water and inflorescence sap; and beautiful baskets, hats and many other handicrafts from the coconut leaves. De- pending on how many capable members of the par- ticipating families were involved, they increased their income by 3-5 times compared to their previous in- come from copra. The project option of processing high-value products from coconut has securely aug- mented the income of participating poor coconut households and lifted them above the poverty line. Equally important, it has provided employment op- portunities to formerly unemployed and underem- ployed rural women resulting to enhanced self es- teem, and economic and social empowerment for women.

(Clockwise from right) Making single-ply fibre rope in Fiji. Coconut virgin oil produced by CBO members of Wilpotha in Sri Lanka, which is being marketed locally and abroad. Vayalar CBO members making coconut flour. CBO members in the Philippines making rope and other fibre-based products. Bangladeshi women of the Chandrapara Coconut Community helping each other make snowmats SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 79

Maximizing coconut farm productivity through intercropping Monoculture or the planting of sole coco- nut crop has not given good returns to co- conut farmers. In fact, this practice, which majority of coconut farmers follow, has made them poor. When planting coconut seedlings in new farms, farmers usually wait for five to seven years before their first fruit harvest. If they do not plant other cash crops on the same farm, they soon find out that income comes late and conclude that coconut is not an attractive crop to grow. If their coconut trees are old and yields are declining, their farms become even less profitable. The ‘Poverty reduction in coconut growing communities’ project promoted in- tercropping trials to test the viability of growing cash and food security crops be- tween and under coconut palms. Test cash crops generally include pineapple, papaya, banana, cacao, vanilla, black pepper planted in existing coconut plantations; and cucumber, chillies, gourd, long beans, tomatoes, amaranth, and other local veg- etables planted in new coconut farms. Pro- duction of food security crops such as taro, yam, sweet potatoes, cassava and feed crops such as maize, grass and Gliricidia for fodder are also being tested. The coconut provides partial shade and a favourable microclimate for growing the cash, food security and feed crops. The cul- tivation of the soil for these intercrops con- trols the weeds, provides the coconut with residual fertilizer and water, and increases overall organic matter and the water hold- ing capacity of the soil. Some farmers in the 25 pilot communities inherently know these benefits which are part of their indigenous knowledge. However, only a few farmers have the capacity to practice intercropping and of those who practice intercropping, it is simply for subsistence. Most coconut farmers are aware that their farms can be more productive through intercropping but even if they do, they have no access to appropriate technology, quality seeds, capi-

(Top to bottom) A TEDS CBO member in his cash- and food security- intercrop plot. A Sri Lankan woman CBO member with her prized vegetables planted under coconut. Dr Pons Batugal with a Pallikara coconut farmer in the latter’s banana- coconut intercrop. Intercropping coconut with pineapple and papaya in Xuan Dong commune, Vietnam 80 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III tal and market to make coconut-based intercropping a profitable enterprise. These produc- tivity constraints were addressed through COGENT’s poverty reduction project. Through the project, needy farmers and interested unemployed and underemployed rural women were trained on intercropping. They were then provided loans from the project’s revolving fund (for microcredit) through their community-based organizations (CBOs) to support their intercropping trials. Initially, most planting materials were sourced from government stations, private seed companies and from other farmers. Some CBOs were encouraged to establish community-managed nurseries where quality planting mate- rials were propagated and loaned out to the farmer cooperators. These planting materials and other recommended farm inputs like fertilizers and chemicals were issued as non-collateralized loans in kind or in cash and repaid at low interest rates, based on the agreed terms between the lending CBO and the borrower. The CBO leaders and extension officers, with the help of researchers also conducted market sur- veys to identify suitable markets for the cooperators’ produce. The family mem- bers, especially the wives of farmers, sell their farm produce directly to the consum- ers, when possible, to avoid the middle- men and secure a better profit from their sales. The CBOs also helped in collective marketing of their products for distant market outlets.

(Top) Visitors admiring the vegetable intercrops of the CBO members of the Real project site in Quezon Province, also in the Philippines.(Middle) Coconut, corn and peanut intercrop in Huntu, Indonesia. (Bottom left) Cutflowers being grown as cash crop in Balingasag, Philippines. (Bottom right) Intercropping grass under coconut as livestock feed in Tam Quan Nam in Vietnam SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 81

Boosting farm earnings and family nutrition through integration of livestock in a coconut-based farming system Raising livestock and poultry in a coconut-based farming system has definite advantages for enhancing incomes and improving nutrition for members of resource-poor families. In many coconut growing communities, family diets are usually high in carbohydrates but deficient in protein and vitamins which have caused malnutrition. Hence, the COGENT’s ‘Poverty reduction in coconut growing communities’ project included farmer trials on livestock/poultry production to identify profitable options. The members of the established CBOs in the 25 pilot communities were assisted, as indi- viduals or in groups, to raise various poultry and livestock species. The project provided technologies, training, access to quality native and improved animal stocks, a revolving fund for microcredit, and marketing assistance. A total of 1605 CBO members, 58 % of whom are women, were involved in the production of quails, chicken, ducks, rabbit, goats, pigs and cattle. Loans were issued without collateral, in cash and in kind, to individuals and in groups. Interest rates which ranged from zero to 15% were decided by CBO officers in consultation with members. Loan recovery rates are still difficult to estimate as most of the loans are not yet due, but based on current maturing loans, repayments have been as high as 95-100%. In India, farmers tending cattle have used the manure, in combination with farm waste, in vermicomposting (with earthworms) to produce and sell organic fertilizers or applied to their farms to produce organically grown vegetables. In Vietnam, the cattle and pig ma- nures were used to produce biogas for cooking and to fertilize Guinea grass grown under coconut for cattle fodder. This successful village-level technology could reduce the pressure on cutting forest trees for fuelwood and the area needed for open grazing. The biogas tech- nology has been replicated by government agencies in 10 sites in Binh Dinh Province.

(Clockwise, from top left) Raising goats as livestock in Sri Lanka. A Bangladeshi boy and his mother with the chickens (inside inverted wicket basket) which he takes care of. A Sri Lankan coconut farmer showing off his honeybees. A PNG housewife feeding her ducks which she obtained from her CBO in Murukanam 82 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

(Above, clockwise from top left) Cattle is another popular livestock raised in the project sites in Sri Lanka. Poultry in a chicken coop built and managed by the livestock group in Huntu, Gorontalo, Indonesia. Shrimp produced between coconuts being harvested by CBO members in Hung Phong commune, Vietnam. A Tam Quan Nam farmer explaining how his swine livestock also produce biogas, which is collected in a bag (background) and used for cooking in his house. (Right) A woman CBO member of Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh with her goat livestock obtrained from the CBOs’ microcredit system

The testing of animal integration with coconut farm- ing is still in its infancy, but many CBO members have already adopted the introduced animal production technologies as components of sustainable livelihood activities. The initial results have tremendous poten- tial, not only in generating income, but more so in im- proving nutrition. One housewife in Sri Lanka, which raises a milking cow with the help of her children, proudly stated that the cow produces 2.5 litres of milk a day from which the family consumes 1.5 litres and sells one litre per day. Mrs A. Shobhana, a housewife in Kasaragod, India who raises 10 chickens with the help of her 12-year old son, said that before the project, she could not afford to buy eggs at eight Rupees (US$0.24) each to feed her children, but now she could afford to serve eggs everyday and still have some left for sale. In addition, poultry and live- stock rising has fostered cohesiveness of family members working together to produce cash while improving their nutrition. SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 83

Mobilizing project support through strategic public awareness Public awareness and dissemination of research results

Jeffrey T. Oliver Communications Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

Public awareness (PA) is an important tool for mobilizing popular opinion, and for generating and sustaining action and political and funding support within countries and globally. A targeted public awareness programme can promote the development of national, regional and international linkages and collaborative mechanisms. It can facilitate efforts to involve communities, the local government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in coconut genetic resources conservation activities, thus ensuring a broader base for their effective use, particularly for poverty alleviation. Project brochures and newsletters being distributed to coconut Multilateral approaches to problem- farmers in Hung Phong commune, Vietnam solving are very complex - not to mention expensive – hence, the need for broad popular support for development activities is particularly important 1 . The PA strategy of the COGENT-coordinated ‘Poverty reduction in coconut growing communities’ (PRCGC) project has the specific objectives of: (1) promoting a bet- ter understanding of the importance of coconut genetic resources among policymakers in reducing poverty; (2) swaying public opinion to positively in- fluence the stakeholders’ concern and action to support coconut genetic re- sources research, conservation and utili- zation; (3) creating a common forum for partners and collaborators to catalyze sustainable popular and broad-based sup- port to the operational activities of the project; and (4) priming national partners

Farmers’ field days provided the venue and the opportunity for into replicating the project in more sites participating farmers and CBOs to exhibit their products and show in their respective countries and adopt- other project stakeholders their achievements. This also provided ing its strategy and framework into their the impetus for local governments to further support the activities of the project communities national development (poverty allevia- tion) programmes. Output-wise, the eight PRCGC project participating countries (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Fiji and Papua New Guinea) have produced a number of PA materials and have conducted numerous PA activities (Table 1). Since 2002, the community-based organizations (CBOs) of the 25 pilot sites, with the help of their

1Stapleton, Paul, P. Batugal and J. T. Oliver, editors. 2004. Manual on technical writing, public awareness, seminar presentation and proposal preparation for coconut researchers. IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. 84 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

respective country implementing agencies, have produced 140 public awareness materials comprising of popular articles in local and national newspapers, agricultural magazines, technoguides, books and scientific journals. Furthermore, 54 farmers’ field days (i.e., six to seven per participating country) have also been conducted by the CBOs in the communities to showcase the achievements of the farmer- and women- participants of the project. The local broadcast media, particularly in Vietnam, Indonesia and India, covered some of these During the project, events like field visits and field days were usually field days. Representative staffs of the covered by the local media. This provided the opportunity for the project implementers to widely publicize the activities and outputs implementing agencies have also made of the CBOs. Here, Dr Pons Batugal, Project Coordinator, is shown presentations about the project in national being interviewed by PacificTV, a local television station in Wori, and international conferences and Indonesia meetings. The communities themselves have also participated in product exhibitions, just like in the Philippines during the National Coconut Week celebrations sponsored by the Philippine Coconut Authority. To exemplify the initial impact of the project on the lives of the household beneficiaries,128 success stories have been documented and generated from the 24 project communities in the eight participating countries.

Table 1. Summary table of PA materials produced and farmers’ field days conducted, by country Number of PA materials Number of farmer field days Country produced and PA activities conducted conducted* Bangladesh 14 7 India 63 7 Sri Lanka 7 7 Philippines 26 7 Indonesia 5 7 Vietnam 17 7 Fiji 5 6 Papua New Guinea 3 6 TOTAL for all countries 140 54 *including media (TV and radio) coverage

With an effective PA strategy, COGENT was able to generate technical and financial sup- port for the project, especially in the regional and international arenas. The external re- sources generated by COGENT enabled its Secretariat to contract experts in various coco- nut-based income-generating technologies, resulting in the production of 14 training manu- als that have been distributed to the participating communities. These manuals were con- densed and translated into the local language by some of the country implementing agen- cies and given to the CBOs. Additionally, the network has produced two publications on Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities project: Volume I: The Framework and Project Plan and Volume II: Mobilizing for Action, which document the framework of the project and the capacity building-related activities to prepare the project participants undertake income-generating activities, respectively. This present publication, Volume III: Project Achievements and Impact, the final instalment in the three-volume series of the PRCGC project, features the accomplishments and initial impact the project has achieved in the participating countries. This publication also contains 128 success stories as documented in the project sites (see Chapter 3: Project Success Stories). This three-volume series aims to provide an over-all perspective of the project, as well as provide insights and lessons to people and institutions interested to undertake or support a similar project. SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 85

Creating and nurturing partnerships for project sustainability Networking and institutional linkages

Jeffrey T. Oliver1 and Rodolfo E. Coronel2 1Communications Assistant and 2Training Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

In establishing institutional linkages and support system, COGENT recognizes the impor- tance of stakeholders’ participation in every activity it undertakes. Moreover, the network believes it can not do the task of poverty reduction in coconut-growing communities all by itself. Poverty is a multi-faceted phenomenon; hence it requires the help and support of concerned organizations and institutions to overcome it. COGENT and the country implementing agencies, spearheaded by the Programme/ Project Leaders explored every opportunity to link with government instrumentalities, edu- cational institutions, private sectors, NGOs, donors and other development organizations to access support for the poverty reduction project in coconut growing communities. Most of the support generated are in the form of funds, information, material contributions (i.e., planting materials/seeds, animal stocks, machinery, tools and equipment, etc.), technical advice, training, administrative/management backstopping and facilities. The Project Team at the country level explored other networks, especially trading net- works and exporters, to generate marketing support for the products being produced by the households, in the farms and at the community processing centres. These trade networks also provided information on new products or new designs, market trends and opportuni- ties. They also helped in connecting the CBOs to both the suppliers of materials and the buyers of produce. They also opened the window of opportunities for CBOs to access mar- kets through trade fairs and shows organized by the trade network. Training opportunities for product development and improvement were also accessed through these trade net- works. The government instrumentalities, particularly the local government units, were ap- proached, when appropriate, to put up or improve basic infrastructure in areas of opera- tions (i.e., farm-to-market roads, electrical facilities, irrigation, etc.). Other government agen- cies that have special programmes for the poor communities also provided resource base opportunities for training, acquisition of simple processing machinery and infrastructure, among others. Recognizing that NGOs and other donors can accommodate proposals that especially address the CBOs’ interests and agenda, COGENT encouraged the implementing agencies to study, analyze and understand the specific interests of potential donors and develop a proposal around those interests (e.g. the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility - Small Grants Programme (UNDP GEF-SGP), which provides up to US$50 000 to a project that addresses both the livelihoods and environmental en- hancement of a community). European countries, through their embassies, are providing modest funds to support microenterprise development initiatives of community groups. Others have special focus on gender and development, participation and local governance. Output-wise, the country implementing agencies were able to support the communities in linking up with vital partners to effectively carry-out the activities of the project. These include, among others, national agricultural research and extension agencies, academic in- stitutions, private sector businesses, media outfits and even individuals. The number of organizational linkages that accordingly extended support to the project at the country level were as follows: Bangladesh (14), India (9), Sri Lanka (12), Indonesia (5), Philippines (14), Vietnam (6), Fiji (5) and Papua New Guinea (6). A summary of linkages and partnerships established, strengthened and sustained, as well as the nature of collaboration, during the project period is shown in Annex 1. 86 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III Annex 1. Summary table of linkages and partnerships established under COGENT’s Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities project SECTION 2: Project Achievements Under the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework 87

(training)

(trainingfood on funds for funds for (sharingof

)

(technicalsupport)

training)

(planting materials and (training-technologies) (extension/ technology transfer) technology (extension/ training (capacity building-project and nature of linkagesnature

(cooperative monitoring and audit) (training) (training) (project management assistance) (support for participation on training) (training on technologies and project

(capital funds) )

(stocks and training on carabao raising and raisingon carabao training and (stocks (training on vegetableproduction)

(technologies, training)

(health facilities, i.e.toilets, potablewater (training andequipment) (training (livestock andtraining) (livestock (training on design,(trainingpricing onand marketing) training)

(technology transfer) Organizationaland link

(training on cooperative management) (planting materials) (planting

Foundation (Local NGO) INIBAP livelihoodenvironmental and enhancement) experiences, public awareness) Sri Lanka Export Development Board (training-marketing) Board Development Export Lanka Sri livelihoodenvironmental and enhancement) system) Siyath organizational management management, marketing of produce) (testing,fabricationsupply machineries ofand and equipment, processing technologies) livestock) processing, andintercrops) livestock production management) Los Baños Los Baños

Department of Agriculture of Department Department of Animal Production Animal of Department Global EnvironmentFacilitySmall Grants Programme ( Gospal House (religious-based ( NGO) Project Advancement Economic Rural Province Southern University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka

Global EnvironmentFacilitySmall Grants Programme ( Heifer International Heifer Trade Craft of UK Sri Lankatheof AdvancementScience Association of ( Group Services Technology Intermediate British High Commission High British (SPC) Community Pacific the of Secretariat Voluntary Service Organization (VSO) Cocoa and Coconut Extension Agency Departmentof Primary Industries PNG Rural Bank ( Cocoa PNG Instituteand Coconut raising) livestock on Authority(training Company Seed Viking CREDO Development Cooperative National Engineering Research & Development Center (NERDC) Livestock and Agriculture of Department Unit Local Government Institute Training Agriculture-Agriculture of Department Department of Agrarian Reform Agrarian of Department Philippine Carabao Center Carabao Philippine Philippines- the of University Technology, and Science of Department Bank Planters Coconut United East West Seed Company Company Seed West East ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™

™ ™

™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ Development Society Thuthipiritigama, Hettipola Cooperative Quezon Real, Malapad, Makukanam Wilpotha, Puttalam Beneficiaries Multi-purpose Cooperative Occidental Negros Cauayan, Caliling, Transgogol Dodanduwa, Galle Linabu, MisamisOriental Last Karkar Cooperative Old Poblacion, Maitum, Saranggani Community-based Organizations Thuthipiritigama Entrepreneurship Thuthipiritigama Malapad Integrated Livelihood Barem Community Association Womens Savings Effort Reform Agrarian Patol Bahay Transgogol Community Association Collective Womens Dodanduwa Linabu CocomutPlanters Association LastKarkar Community Association Fleischer Estate Integrated marketing ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™

Institute – SriLanka (CRISL) Authority (PCA) Research Institute (CCRI) National Partners Partners National Coconut Research Coconut Philippine Coconut Coconut Philippine Cocoa and Coconut ™ ™ ™

Country Country Papua New Guinea S Sri Lanka Philippines 88 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

(potential project

(potential project funds) (technologies) (public awareness) nature of linkagesnature

(potential project funds) facilities) ,

advise Organizationaland link (potential project funds) project (potential

(potentialfunds) project funds) (potential funds) project MRC Departmentfor International Development (DFID) Global EnvironmentFacilitySmall GrantsProgramme SGP) (GEF Canada International Development Assistance Development International Bank Canada Development Asian ( Council Peoples’ ACIAR Radio Broadcasting of Ho Minh Chi City Development & Rural Agriculture of Ministry ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ 8 Community Community Hung Phong & PhongNam, Giong Tre Ben Trom, Xuan dong,Xuan Giang Tien Tam Quan, Binh Dinh Community-based Organizations Hung Phong/Phong Nam Coconut Community Coconut Dong Xuan Tam Quan Nam Coconut Community ™ ™ ™ 62 3 25 (OPI) (OPI) National Partners Partners National Institute Plant Oil ™

Country Country ietnam ietnam V Total number of NGO Implementing Agency - Note: Total organizations directly involved in the project - Total number of CBOs established – Total number of National Country Implementing Agencies involved – SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 89 Section 3 Project Success Stories

• Documenting success stories under IPGRI-COGENT’s ‘Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities’ Project • Individual farmer and group success stories South Asia Bangladesh India Sri Lanka Southeast Asia Indonesia Philippines Vietnam South Pacific Fiji Papua New Guinea 90 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 91

Documenting success stories under IPGRI-COGENT’s ‘Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities’ Project

Jeffrey T Oliver Communications Assistant, COGENT, IPGRI-APO

Exactly how does one get an effective story, and its accompanying message, out in order to attain a set objective or achieve a particular effect? Current media practice dictates that people are more receptive to messages carried across in stories involving real people in real situations to which they can personally relate to. In other words, it is always better if your partners or your “customers” speak for you and your work, rather than you doing the pitch yourself. And that is why success stories are excellent vehicles for letting other people – your prospects and your audience – know about you or your organization’s work and achievements and influence them into positive action towards your cause or to support your work. Nothing else cuts through to readers or an audience than a well-told and well-written success story; nothing is more compelling than other people speaking for you and your work. That is why success stories are also called “marketing writing for the real world”… the world where prospects or your target audience are skeptical and need a good reason to listen to you (Gordon 2004).

What is a success story? In broad terms, a success story is basically a testimonial about how one’s product, project or work helped someone else in the real world. Success stories are also often called case studies, application stories or user stories; although in a more technical sense they may differ from one another. Success stories can be as short as a few paragraphs or as long as 10, or even more, pages, often produced with color photos. They can be distributed in print (hardcopy), as PDFs (e-copy), in the organization’s newsletter or on the Web. They can be handed out at organizational meetings, community visits, trade shows and in literature kits for prospective donors, journalists, investors and others. No matter the length nor format, one thing is certain: success stories are one of the most powerful documents one can write if you want people to sit up and listen.

Why is there a need to document success stories under COGENT’s “Poverty reduction in coconut growing communities” project? Under COGENT’s ADB-funded “Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities” (PRCGC) project, success stories were based on the actual experiences of the women and farmer participants within the context of COGENT’s three-pronged strategy. The stories were generated as part of COGENT’s overall public awareness strategy to: 1. Promote a better understanding of the importance and link of coconut genetic re- sources among policymakers and the different project stakeholders in reducing pov- erty; 2. Sway public opinion to positively influence stakeholders’ concern and action to sup- port coconut genetic resources research, conservation and utilization along a similar framework; 3. Create a common forum for partners and collaborators to catalyze sustainable popu- lar and broad-based support to the operational activities of the project and its upscaling; and 4. Prime-up national partners into replicating the project in more sites in their respec- tive countries and adopting its strategy and framework into their national develop- ment (poverty alleviation) programmes. 92 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Generally, the success stories produced under the PRCGC project cater to donors, other organizations and individuals who may be interested in undertaking a similar project but first wants to see what the possible results would or could be. They are also used to inspire farmers as well as research and development workers. Specifically, these stories exemplify and highlight the outstanding achievements of project participants, particularly individual farmers/ women, income generating groups, CBOs and even the whole community. The success stories as documented in the PRCGC project are categorized under the following: 1. Individual success stories – these are stories of outstanding individual farmers and/or women involved in one or more of the following project activities: (a) high-value coconut-based products (HVP) production; (b) intercropping under coconut; and (c) livestock raising and feed/fodder production in a coconut-based farming system; 2. Group success stories - these are stories of women and/or farmer groups within the project sites who have achieved exceptional results in any one of the following col- lective income-generating activities: (a) community-managed seedling nursery; (b) CBO and microcredit system management; (c) HVP production; (d) intercropping; and (e) livestock-raising and feed/ fodder production. These stories are character- ized by collective action of a group contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of its members in particular and the community in general; 3. Community-based organization (CBO)/ Community success stories - these are stories of the 24 CBOs participating in the PRCGC project. These stories encompasses the overall achievements of the community or CBO in terms of the project components related to the target outputs as initially identified at the start of the project; 4. Country success stories - the most encompassing of the stories produced under the PRCGC project, country success stories contain the achievements and outputs of the project across the three project communities as well as its impact on the national agency or institution implementing it.

The guidelines and content flow used in generating these stories are found in Chapter 3 (Monitoring and Evaluation) of the publication entitled ‘Poverty Reduction in Coconut Grow- ing Communities, Volume II, Mobilizing for Action’.

How were the PRCGC project success stories generated? As mentioned, the project’s success stories are based on the outstanding achievements of individual farmers, groups, CBO/ communities and countries participating under COGENT’s PRCGC project. In producing these stories, the following general flow was followed: 1. The country Project Leaders (PL), in consultation with their respective Community Coordinators (CC) and CBO members, were asked by COGENT to identify prospec- tive exceptionally-performing project participants – individuals, groups and CBOs or communities; 2. The identified outstanding farmers, groups and CBOs were requested to write their own success stories. Farmers who were not capable to write on their own were asked to verbally relate their stories to their respective CCs which the latter recorded, organized, put into writing and validated with them; 3. The CCs and PL reviewed and revised the stories as appropriate. The CCs gathered additional data as required; 4. The PL and CCs then finalized the success stories and sent these to the COGENT Secretariat for secondary review; 5. Where appropriate, stories that needed additional information were referred back to the concerned PLs and CCs for updating; 6. The PL and CCs referred these back to the farmers, put in the needed information and then resent them back to the COGENT Secretariat; 7. The COGENT Secretariat then forwarded the collected stories to two professional editors: Mr Zacarias Sarian, senior editor of the Agricultural Section of the Manila SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 93

Bulletin in the Philippines, and Dr. Ester Lopez, an editor based at the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) in Los Baños, Laguna, also in the Philippines who converted the stories into feature or newspaper-type articles.

All the individual farmer and income-generating group success stories that were documented, are presented immediately after this article.

References Batugal, Pons and Rodolfo Coronel, editors. 2004. Poverty reduction in coconut growing communities, Volume II: Mobilizing for action. IPGRI-APO, Serdang, Selangor DE, Malaysia. Gordon Graham. Gordon and Gordon: Technical Writing for the Real World. An online reference. Website: http://www.gordonandgordon.com. 94 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Bangladesh success stories

Babul Chandra Sarker Associate Project Leader, Horticulture Research Centre - Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (HRC-BARI), Gazipur, Bangladesh

Individual farmer success stories

“A big leap forward” Success story of Anowara Begum, livestock production and coconut-based intercropping , Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based Livestock Production’ award)

Anowara Begum, 41, from Jamira community in Khulna, Bangladesh, received 10 chickens as credit worth US$ 12.97 from IPGRI-COGENT’s poverty reduc- tion project. Currently, she earns about US$ 25.95/month by sell- ing eggs and chicken. Utilizing the interest gained from this venture, she then purchased one pregnant goat at a cost of US$ 15.57, which gave birth to two kids. After some time, she sold the two grown kids for US$ 34.60 and purchased a pregnant cow for US$ 53.64.

Later on, her cow gave birth to a Mrs. Anowara Begum with her lactating cow and its calf. From just a few calf. So far, she has earned US$ chickens which she got as loan in-kind from the Banchte Shekha CBO, she 77.86 from selling the milk of the was able to expand her production and income opportunities with a lot of hardwork, common sense and help from her community. She is now looked lactating cow. Her milking cow up to in Jamira as a model farmer-entrepreneur for other socioeconomically and grown calf are now worth disadvantaged women can imitate US$ 207.64. Anowara also culti- vates different vegetables as mixed crops between coconuts (i.e., lady’s finger, stem ama- ranth and Indian spinach), which earns for her US$ 78.73 annually. These activities have earned for her a total gross income of US$ 439.80 over a 12-month period. Given total expenses of US$ 99.48, she has a US$ 340.32 net income. Anowara, married and a mother of five, received her formal education from a local high school. Her husband is a farmer and his annual income is almost nil. She owns 0.04 ha of land, with initially 12 coconut trees. As a project participant, she became aware of the importance of high-value coconuts, a result of which she planted, on the same piece of land, 20 seedlings of BARI Coconut-1, BARI Coconut-2 and other local high-yielding varieties. Before the project, she only earned a net annual income of US$ 75.00, or US$ 0.20 per day, which was way the below poverty level. With the additional income, she could now man- age to send her children to school, secure formal medication from a professional doctor when they get sick and provide nutritious food for her family. She is also planning to build a house from the income that she has been generating from her various ventures. She is currently the president of the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, the CBO overseeing the implementation of the project in Jamira. Her success has encouraged other farmer-households in her village to undertake the various livelihood options offered by the IPGRI/COGENT-coordinated project. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 95

“Fulfillment of a mother” Success story of Ms Fatema Begum, coconut-based intercropping, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based Intercropping’ award)

Motherhood for 36-year old Fatema Begum of Jamira, Phultala is a serious responsibility. Having acquired only elementary education and knowing the hardship of being poorly edu- cated, she is determined to secure the education of her child. Fatema and her family of four are entirely dependent on her husband’s low income for their needs. Her family’s resources are meager. Their house is made of bamboo and wood and they have only seven coconut palms in their small homestead. An opportunity to earn a living materialized when a project intended for coconut farm- ers was introduced to the community. Fatema readily took the chance and became an active member of the community-based organization (CBO) named Banchte Shekha Coco- nut Community. Members of the CBO were trained on several technology options such as intercropping with coconut, livestock production, and high-value product preparation. Intercropping vegetables caught Fatema’s interest. She secured a microcredit from the CBO in the amount of US$ 10.38. From this amount, she bought vegetable seeds of lady’s finger, stem amaranth and Indian spinach and planted them in her homestead. Her labor was rewarded with good harvest. Marketing her produce was a breeze as the local market readily absorbed them. From her earnings, she was able to pay back her loan and gained a net income of US$ 86.76. Because of her successful vegetable production, fresh and nutritious vegetables became a common fare on her family’s table. Even her relatives were direct beneficiaries of her pro- duce as they received about 100 kg vegetables from Fatema’s farm for free. Through the IPGRI-COGENT project, she was also encouraged to plant improved vari- eties of coconut. She had planted 15 coconut seedlings of BARI Coconut l from the CBO coconut nursery. These additional palms will increase harvest from her farm. While wait- ing for better coconut yields, Fatema keeps herself busy planting vegetables and enjoys her improved economic and social status. As a mother, she is definitely very happy for having a livelihood that will provide for her child’s education. Fatema’s experience serves as an encouragement to other members. In the long run, she may as well be a “mother” of her community

“Rope-making gives new hope to young housewife” Success story of Ms Zohora Begum, coconut fibre-based rope production, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in High-Value Coconut Products Production’ award)

Zohora Begum is a 21-year-old housewife in the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community in Khulna, Bangladesh, who has found that rope making can substantially increase the in- come of her family and lift their economic status. It all started in 2002 when the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project in coconut growing communities was launched in her village. Having joined the community-based organization which was formed to implement the project, she was able to attend free trainings on high-value products preparation, intercropping and livestock raising. She took up rope making as her project soon after training. That’s one activity she could do in her home without prejudice to performing her usual household chores as a wife. Borrowing money from the CBO’s trust fund to acquire a simple rope-making machine, she could now produce ropes made of coconut fiber worth US$ 1.03 a day. And in her first year of making ropes, she was able to make a profit of US$ 156.73. That’s a handsome amount to add to the US$ 300.09 income that her husband was making from his employ- ment. 96 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

With the increased income of the family, they can now afford to buy more of their basic necessities. The family was also able to plant 20 new coconut seedlings of the high-yielding variety in their 600-square meter coconut garden. Now, Zohora Begum has become more confident of her ability. She is now thinking of engaging in intercropping cash crops as well as in raising some chickens and other farm animals in their farm. And she is also thinking of improving their house. She has, in fact, become some sort of an inspiration to other women in her village. They now want to follow her footstep.

“Young woman is an enterprising diversified farmer” Success story of Ms Shirina Akhter, integrated coconut farming, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh

Meet Shirina Akhter, a 23-year-old single woman who has shown that she can make money from diversified farming in a small coconut farm measuring only 4,000 square meters. Shirina is a member of the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community in the village of Jamira, Khulna, Bangladesh where the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project was launched in January 2002. As a member of the BSCC which is the community-based organization that was orga- nized to implement the IPGRI-COGENT project, she attended practically all the free trainings on various livelihood projects. These included livestock and poultry rearing, vegetable inter- cropping and making high-value coconut products. For a start, Shirina borrowed US$ 12.97 from the revolving fund of the CBO to pay for 10 hybrid chickens which she raised in her backyard. Within a year, she was able to repay her loan and pocketed US$ 25.95 as her income from the sale of eggs and meat. And she continues to benefit from her poultry project. For her next project, she borrowed US$ 10.38 from the CBO to buy seeds and other planting materials for her intercropping project. She planted salable vegetables such as stem amaranth, red amaranth, papaya, aroid and Indian spinach between her coconut trees. Again, she was able to repay her loan in time and making another US$ 25.95 from the sale of her vegetables. Besides her cash income, her family benefited from the fresh vegetables that they consumed. Not content with just chickens and vegetables, Shirina used some of savings to buy a female goat for US$ 15.57. As of this writing, the goat has given birth to three kids which, if he would sell together with the mother, would fetch at least US$ 65. But she will not do that because the mother is pregnant again. The latest that Shirina has bought is a cow, borrowing US$ 34.60 from the CBO to pay for it. The cow is now pregnant and is expected to give more income to Shirina. If she decides to sell the animal now, she could be richer by US$ 86.52. But she wont do that. After all, she could make money not only from the calf but also from the milk she could collect everyday for several months. Additionally, Shirina has added 14 new coconut trees of the high-yielding variety to her farm. Surely, these trees will add to her farm income in a few years. And don’t be surprised if one of these days she will also engage in making high-value coconut products. After all, she is just 23. She has a bright future ahead of her.

“Not your ordinary young lady” Success story of Ms Dipali Rani Pal, production of high-value coconut-based products, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

Dipali Rani Pal is not your typical single, young lady. At 18, she is leading and helping manage a community-based organization (CBO), the Bandabila Coconut Community, as its SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 97

General Secretary. She is also earning a living for her family of two by making fibre ropes. Her skill in rope-making was made possible by the ADB-funded Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities project initiated IPGRI-COGENT. The project’s primary objective is to reduce poverty in poor coconut-growing rural communities. In spite of her limited education, she demonstrated strong leadership as she was able to run the CBO smoothly. She took part in training activities carried out by the CBO in organi- zation and management, intercropping, high value product-preparation, nursery manage- ment and livestock production. Eventually, she availed of microcredit in form of a rope- making machine worth US$ 4.75. With her newly acquired skill in making ropes, she was able to prepare 1 kilogram of rope per day, valued at US$ 1.21. Utilizing the rope-making machine, she had earned net profit of US$ 30.97 in a month. Initially she had a problem on sourcing out husks, the raw materials for rope-making. But she is not easily discouraged. Hardworking and resourceful, she searched for other sources of husks and found the solu- tion to her problem by buying husks from a nearby village. She also manages her time very well. She prepares ropes after doing her household chores like cooking, cleaning and wash- ing. Hence, she is able to fulfill her family obligations and at the same time use her extra time making ropes. She is now earning daily and is very happy that she can now contribute to her family. When asked about Dipali, “She is our kind of lady!” chorused the members of the Bandabila Coconut Community.

“The practical investor” Success story of Ms Shikha Dutta, coconut-based intercropping and livestock production, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

Youth and inadequate education did not deter Shikha Dutta from being a wise investor. Only 24 years old, Shikha is considered a young housewife and farmer. She is a member of the Bandabila Coconut Community in Bagharpara, Jessore. As a member of the CBO, she is entitled to avail of its services like microcredit. Shikha got a loan worth US$ 10.38 for coco- nut-based intercropping. She cultivated assorted vegetables such as pointed gourd, ash gourd, sweet gourd, and bitter gourd, among others. Since she started harvesting, nutri- tious and fresh vegetables became a regular fare for her family of five. She sold part of the produce in the local market and earned US$ 34.60. She budgets her earnings in a manner that she spent only half of it for her family needs while she used the other half (US$ 17.30) to finance wheat production that gave her earnings of US$ 51.91. She reinvested her income from wheat by buying a cow for US$ 51.91. Not satisfied with this, she took another loan and bought two kids for US$ 17.30. After rearing the kids for sometime, she sold them for US$34.60 and bought a cow worth US$ 69.71. This cow had borne a calf. In addition to a healthy calf, the cow churned out 2 kilograms of milk everyday for the past six months. Shikha made sure that her family got half of the milk produced while the other half was sold. By selling milk and different kinds of gourd, she earned US$ 37.37 and US 103.82, respectively. From her earnings, she decided to buy a bull worth US$ 521.91. Her livestock is now valued at US$ 300.95. Because of her wise decisions in investing her loans and earnings, Shikha earned a total income of US$ 500.62 within a year and netted a profit of US$ 334.32. With additional family income, her children are regularly attending classes and her fam- ily can now seek medical attention more frequently. As windows of opportunity open up to Shikha, she plans to cultivate more vegetables, wheat and jute next year. While she thinks of further investment, a bigger plan is now crystallizing in her mind - a bigger house for her family. Her dream for a better life is now being realized. 98 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Lady farmer started with just one goat” Success story of Ms Kadirunnessa,, coconut-based livestock production, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

Just one female goat for a start has significantly changed the financial and social status of a lady owner of a small coconut garden in the Bandabila Coconut Community in Bagharpara, Jessore, Bangladesh. Thanks to the launching of the COGENT poverty reduction project in 2002, Ms. Kadirunnessa, 40 years old, has discovered that raising farm animals together with coco- nuts can be rewarding. After becoming a member of the CBO (community-based organization) that implemented the IPGRI-COGENT project, and having attended the different free trainings on livelihood activities, she decided to try her luck in livestock. First, she borrowed US$ 13.84 from the CBO to pay for a pregnant goat. The goat eventually gave birth to two kids, a male and a female. After several months, the female offspring gave birth to its own kid. After some months, she sold the mother for $17.30. The three goats that were left with her are worth at least US$ 50. Feeling more confident with her experience in raising animals, Kadirunnessa borrowed US$ 25.95 from the CBO to add to her own saving to buy a pregnant cow worth $60.56. As of this writing, the cow had given birth to a female calf and Kadirunnessa has been milking her for the last three months, getting about 2.5 kilos of milk a day. So far, she has earned US$ 15.57 from her milk sales, and expects to earn more the next several months. Today, the value of the cow and its calf is at least US$ 100. Her farm animals also produce for her valuable manure which she uses to enrich her soil for growing some crops. She is growing aroids, for instance, which had given her an addi- tional income of US$ 30. In total, she has earned US$ 213.17 from her animal raising and a few intercrops. That’s much better than the very meager income she used to get from her coconut trees. She has started to earn her own money from the interventions introduced by the IPGRI- COGENT project. That has positively changed her financial and social status. The improved techniques she learned from the seminars given by the CBO have empowered her in a big way.

“Rope-making has changed her life for the better” Success story of Ms Ushua Rani Biswas, coconut fibre-based rope-making, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

Ushua Rani Biswas is a 30-year-old housewife without any income before. Today, she is making US$ 1.21 a day by making rope from coconut fiber with the use of a rope making machine that costs only US$ 4.98. And she is just making the rope after doing her usual household chores of cooking, house cleaning and taking care of her child. Her income generating project was the result of her becoming a member of the Chandrapara Coconut Community, the CBO implementing the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT which was launched in her community in 2002. After attending several seminars on different money-making projects, she decided that rope making was for her. No, she did not process the fibres herself. It was more convenient for her to buy the fibers from a nearby village market. She took advantage of the microcredit available to members of the CBO, borrowing money to buy the US$ 4.98 rope making machine and some cash to purchase the fibers she makes into rope. Of course Ushua is very happy about the turn of events. She has been empowered by the CBO that has given her free training on her livelihood project and microcredit needed to buy her inputs. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 99

“Initial failure did not keep her down” Success story of Ms Faku Begum, livestock raising in a coconut-based farming system, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

If at first you do not succeed, do not give up. Try another strategy. That seems to be the thinking of Faku Begum, 38, a housewife from Chandrapara in Barisal, Bangladesh, who did not have any income before the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project was launched in her village in 2002. When the project was started, Faku Begum became a member of the community-based organization (CBO) that implemented it. And after attending several seminars on different money-making projects, she decided to try poultry raising. She borrowed US$ 9.51 from the revolving fund of the CBO to pay for 10 chicks. Unfortunately, 8 of the chickens died. She took care of the two birds anyway, and eventually sold them for US$ 4.15. The failure did not stop her from pursuing her backyard poultry project. With the pro- ceeds from the sale of her two chickens, she bought three local chickens for US$ 3.80. She hatched their eggs and eventually produced 11 chickens. After rearing them, she earned about US$ 29.41 and was able to repay her loan and continued to raise more chickens. Again, Faku Begum borrowed U$ 13.84 from the CBO for intercropping, planting such short term crops as cucumber, ash gourd, sweet gourd, papaya and turmeric under her coconut trees. She had already earned US$ 69.21 from them as of this writing and is expect- ing to earn more in the following months. Faku Begum has been a transformed woman after she has discovered the money-mak- ing potentials of backyard poultry raising and intercropping. She has been able to augment the meager income of her husband who works as an agricultural laborer. She has discov- ered that she can also make money right in the confines of the farm where they live.

“One goat changed his outlook for the better” Success story of Mr Jotish Baroi, livestock raising in a coconut-based farming system, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

Even just one goat can make a positive change in the outlook of a poor coconut farmer. Just like what happened to Jotish Baroi, a 33-year-old family man with just 1200 square meters of coconut garden. Jotish joined the Chandrapara Coconut Community, a community-based organization (CBO), when the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction was launched in Chandrapara in Barisal, Bangladesh. After attending several seminars on livestock raising and other projects, he decided to borrow US$ 15.57 from the CBO’s revolving fund so he can buy a goat. His goat has given birth to two kids, and he has been milking it, selling some of the milk while part is set aside for home consumption. So far, he has earned US$ 57.44 from his goat, which is more than three times the amount that he borrowed from the CBO to buy his mother goat. Of course, he expects to make more money as the number of his farm animals increases. The launching of the IPGRI-COGENT project has proven to be a blessing for people like Jotish in the poor coconut farming community of Chandrapara. It has opened the eyes and minds of coconut farmers that they can help themselves in improving their economic status. 100 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“There’s money in vegetables” Success story of Ms Aleya Begum, vegetable intercropping in a coconut-based farming system, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

Intercropping vegetables in coconut farms is one sure way of making money. That’s particu- larly true to Aleya Begum, a 46-year-old housewife who did not have any income before she learned to grow vegetables. It all started when the COGENT project was launched in her village of Chandrapara in Barisal, Bangladesh in 2002. She became a member of the Chandrapara Coconut Commu- nity that implemented the project in her village and attended the different seminars on income-generating projects. After weighing the different possibilities, she decided to engage in intercropping. She borrowed US$ 13.84 from the revolving fund of the CBO to buy her seeds and other inputs. In her first year, she earned US$ 173.04 from the sale of her harvests of ash gourd, sweet gourd, snake gourd, papaya, ribbed gourd, turmeric and chili. Besides the cash income, her family of five has benefited from the fresh vegetables that the members consumed. She continues to raise vegetables and derives income practically year round. She has definitely improved her family’s economic status. She has been able to augment the meager income of her husband who works as an agricultural laborer. Aleya Begum is happy that she can now buy more of the family’s basic needs such as food, clothing and education for her child. She is even thinking of putting up a new house made of wood and tin roofing.

CBO and coconut-based income-generating activity group success stories

“Women run the show in this community” Success story of the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh

It is women power that is running the show in the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community (BSCC) in Bangladesh where the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project was launched in January 2002. The fellow who heads the BSCC, the community-based organization (CBO) implement- ing the project is a lady by the name of Anowara. And the CBO is composed of 100 members of which 93 are women. Banchte Shekha is a typical poor coconut growing community. The 6500 residents be- long to families with very small land holdings. Their coconut trees are mostly of the low- yielding kind. And the men and women in the village lack the skills and technical know- how to engage in gainful activities. Besides the lack of know-how, the families also lacked capital. When the IPGRI-COGENT project was introduced, things began to perk up. The mem- bers have started to engage in money-making activities after attending trainings in such livelihood projects as livestock and poultry raising, intercropping high-value vegetables, pro- duction of high-value coconut products, and nursery establishment and management. What is most important is the setting up of a revolving fund which provides micro credit to members who don’t have money to buy their inputs and equipment. Under the micro credit scheme adopted, the members were classified and grouped according to age, educa- tion level, economic status and gender. When the members borrow, the executive committee scrutinizes the projects to be financed so that the proper advice could be given. No guaran- tor is needed for the members to avail themselves of the loan which carries an interest of 5% a year. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 101

A total of US$ 1816.49 has been disbursed to the different projects - US$ 400.37 for intercropping; US$ 1079.49 for livestock raising; and US$ 328.77 for nursery establishment and management. These loans have helped the members to increase their family incomes. In one case study of 5 holdings engaged in intercropping in holdings averaging 0.53 hectare, the members made a net income of $76.73 in just a period of four months. In another case study of five members who went into livestock raising in holdings of about half hectare, the net income was US$ 73.78 per year. Of the 100 CBO members, 90 women and 7 men are actively engaged in making ropes, doormats and coconut candies. And in a case study of a group five women members work- ing collectively, the net income obtained was US$ 147.93 in one year. The net income per member was US$ 20.58. Another important development in the community is the planting of high-yielding vari- eties of coconuts. As of June 2004, the CBO members have planted 1750 high quality seed- lings of selected strains. More seedlings are also being readied for planting. The impact of this development is expected to be realized in the long term as these could significantly increase yields. Besides the microcredit system, the assets of the CBO continue to benefit the members. These include 10 rope and 10 doormat-making machines which have been disbursed through the microcredit system. One decorticating machine has been installed in the community to process coconut fiber for sale to those who are making ropes so they don’t have to do the back breaking job of manually beating the husks to produce fiber. One incubator and one bakery oven have just been imported from Sri Lanka which are expected to provide more money-making opportunities for the members.

“Banded and bonded” Success story of the village-level microcredit and revolving fund system of the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh

Under the initiative of the IPGRI-COGENT project, a community-based organization (CBO), Banchte Shekha Coconut Community was organized and registered with the Government Social Welfare Department of Bangladesh. This CBO serves as a conduit for services and livelihood interventions for coconut farmers in its identified service area. The project is implemented through local partners and funded by the Asian Development Bank in a se- lected community at Jamira, Phultala, Khulna. From initial membership of 50, the community has grown to 125 members within a short period. Members are predominantly female (93%). They come from a wide range of educa- tional background. Some have college degree while majority have only informal education. This, however, did not hinder them to work together and implement the project activities. Encouraged and guided by people behind the IPGRI-COGENT Project, the community banded together to pursue a micro credit system of financing to fund the group’s livelihood projects such as nursery management which got a loan of US$ 328.78, intercropping, US$ 408.38; and livestock production and feed formulation, US$ 1079.34. The availability of credit kindled the members’ interest to engage in livelihood projects. Members can get a loan anytime without any collateral. In spite of their poverty, there was an institution that is willing to trust them. Trust is something that they value. Prior to the implementation of the projects, officers and members were trained on organization and management as well as on the different technologies. The members were, therefore, equipped with managerial as will as technical skills. The members were grouped based on the type of project each one wanted to implement thus; they shared common interests, threats, and problems. These strengthened the bond among and between them. Tied with a common purpose, the community formed a strong bond towards combating poverty. 102 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“The magnificent ten” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh

Ten CBO members, namely – Shabuddin Ahmed, Anowara Begum, Shamela Begum, Fatema Begum, Ferdius Akunji, Iqbal Hossain, Toffazel Kazi, Md.Hadiuzzaman, Hosneara Begum, and Shariful Kazi decided to form a group to establish a community-managed coconut nurs- ery. The idea came about after they have been trained on the different possible livelihood options under the IPGRI-COGENT project. From among the possibilities presented to them, the group selected the establishment and management of a coconut nursery. Knowing the importance of improved varieties, they started with BARI coconut 1 and 2 and selected farmers’ high-yielding varieties. The group bought 1500 seed nuts worth US$ 259.56. Their initial capital came from the community-based organization, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community which received a revolving fund from COGENT project. Part of this revolving fund is used for micro credit system available for all members of the CBO. Armed with knowledge derived from CO- GENT training, coupled with a strong cooperative spirit and determination, they provided the necessary conditions for good germination of seed nuts. They were rewarded with 70% germination. Seedlings were properly cared for until these were sold to CBO members and other interested coconut growers in the area. Gross sales amounted to US$ 421.78. After deducting the cost of seed nuts and management cost of US$ 17.30, the group earned a net profit of US$ 144.92 which they shared equally. Their individual earnings added to the family income that enabled them to avail of health and medical services more frequently. Before this project, the women in this community had no income and had to depend on their husband’s income, working as laborers. The group has proven that community-managed nursery is a profitable enterprise. In addition to the benefits that accrued to their families in form of added income, the commu- nity as a whole, benefited from the nursery since the members are assured of quality plant- ing materials. The nursery project addresses both the present needs of the families of the group and the future needs to the community. The expected increase in yield of the im- proved varieties coming from the nursery is something that the community can look for- ward to. When that time comes – they will remember the magnificent ten who started it all. Encouraged by their success, the ten CBO members are planning to establish another group-managed nursery. The unity, good faith within each other and hard labor were the key factors that made the group efficient, effective and successful.

“There’s real money in high-value products” Success story of the coconut-based high-value products group, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh

There’s really good money from processing coconut fibre into ropes and doormats. That is the experience of five women who banded themselves to get into rope and doormat making after undergoing training given free by a community-base organization they joined in 2002. The five women are members of the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, the CBO that was organized to implement the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT that was launched in 2002 in Banchte Shekha in Bangladesh. Soon after their training on making doormats and ropes, the five women - Tania Akhter, Shirina Akter, Fatema Begum, Papia Akter and Nargis Akter - formed their own group and borrowed US$ 173.04 from the CBO to finance their project. Forming their own group offered some advantages. They could avail themselves of big- ger loan and could purchase their inputs at a discount. Before the COGENT project was implemented in their village, the women members of the group did not have any income of their own. Their families depended on the meager SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 103 earnings of their husbands income from occasional farm work and from their coconuts. Their going into high-value products processing has proven to be profitable. In one year they made an income of US$ 737.66 from just a very low investment. As they gain more experience not only in production but also in marketing, their income could increase much more. Thanks to the IPGRI-COGENT project, the women who would otherwise be without gainful employment, are enjoying a profitable business.

“There is money in intercrops” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh

A group of five women has proven once again that raising vegetables as intercrop in a coconut farm is highly profitable. The five women - Anowara Begum, Md. Ikbal Hossain, Md. Haduzzaman, Md. Shabuddin Ahmed and Pervin Begum - are members of the Banchte Shekha Coconut Community (BSCC) in Bangladesh where farm families own small lots planted to coconuts. The BSCC is the community-based organization (CBO) which is implementing the pov- erty reduction project of the IPGRI-COGENT which was launched in Banchte Shekha in January 2002. As a strategy in pursuing the objectives of the project, livelihood projects that could be adopted by the farm families were introduced. One of them is intercropping vegetables in between the coconuts trees. The group headed by Anowara Begum planted vegetables such as Indian spinach, stem amaranth, red amaranth, ash gourd, sweet gourd, cucumber, aroid and papayas. And what have they produced? They were able to generate US$ 383.87 from the sales of their veg- etables. On top of that, they were also able to provide their own families with fresh vegetables for their own consumption. Some of their harvests were given to relatives and friends as well. Overall, intercropping has proven to be a profitable project in a coconut growing com- munity. And the women have shown that they can undertake the project as well.

“Livestock and poultry contribute to poor family’s income” Success story of the coconut-based livestock group, Banchte Shekha Coconut Community, Jamira, Bangladesh

Chickens, goats and cattle can be successfully integrated in coconut farms now matter how small the landholding. This has been proven by a group of five women members of the Jamira community- based organization (CBO) that is implementing the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-CO- GENT which was introduced in 2002 in Banchte Shekha, a coconut growing community in Bangladesh. The members – Anowara Begum, Shamela Begum, Tania Akter, Aleya Begum and Mina Khatun – attended the seminars on various livelihood projects provided free by the IPGRI- COGENT project through the CBO. Soon after their training, they decided to form their group so they could raise chickens, goats and dairy cattle collectively in their backyards. To finance the acquisition of their initial animals, they borrowed US$ 77.86 from the revolving fund of the CBO which was initially provided by the COGENT project and aug- mented by deposits of the 100 members who deposit at least TK 5 every 15 days. The project has been profitable. In their first year of operation, they were able to earn US$ 309.47 from the sales of their eggs, chickens and meat. In addition, some of the eggs and 104 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III meat they produced were consumed by the group members’ families, thus enhancing their own nutrition. The additional income the group members derived from raising farm animals has en- abled them to buy additional basic necessities, including food, clothing, medicine and house repair. The group has also become an inspiration to other members as well as non-members of the CBO who have opened their eyes to the benefits of raising livestock and poultry in their own backyards.

“Livelihood training and microcredit give new life to a poor community” Success story of the Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh (Winnerof the country-level ‘Best Community-Based Organization’ and ‘Best Project Community’ awards)

Free training on money-making projects plus availability of credit have played an important role in giving new life to poor farm families in Bandabila Coconut Community in Bagharpara, Jessore, Bangladesh. Today, many new money-making opportunities are available to the people in the com- munity, thanks to the interventions introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project launched in the locality in January 2002. Before the IPGRI-COGENT project was initiated, most of the male heads of families worked as hired labor in agriculture. The women, on the other hand, stayed at home without any source of income. Because of the small size of land holdings, the income of the farmers from their coconut trees was not enough to meet their daily needs. Farmers did not engage in more profitable activities due to lack of skills, technologies, machineries, capital and market, as well as the mechanisms to promote money-making projects. Lack of awareness of high-yielding coconut varieties was hindering increased produc- tion. Unavailability of good quality planting materials was also a big problem in the commu- nity. To implement the IPGRI-COGENT project, a CBO was formed with about a hundred members, more than 80 percent of which are women. No entrance fee was charged to be- come a member. The CBO members, both men and women, lacked the know-how in crop production as well as processing of coconut products. They were not aware of the benefits of diversified farming like intercropping, livestock and poultry production, feed formulation and the like. What the IPGRI-COGENT project did from the very start was to train the officers and members of the CBO in managing an organization, especially in running a microcredit sys- tem. Under the micro credit scheme, the members were classified and grouped according to age, education level, economic status and gender. The members can borrow money from the trust fund of the CBO which was initially provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project. The small loans have enabled the members without enough capital to start their own money-making projects, either as individuals or as a group. As of the middle of 2004, the CBO has disbursed US$ 1719.93 to borrowers —US$ 783 for intercropping, US$ 509.51 for livestock production, US$ 38.06 for high-value products preparation, and US$ 389.34 for nursery establishment and management. Another priority project undertaken by the CBO has been the promotion of better qual- ity coconut planting materials. For a start, the high-yielding coconut trees in the farmers’ own landholdings were identified as source of seed nuts for propagation. And as of June 2004, a total 1152 seedlings from selected mother trees have been planted by the members in their own coconut farms. Another 1000 seednuts of BARI Narikel Coconut 1 and 2 were readied for propagation as of mid-2004. The CBO has disbursed 10 rope and 10 doormat preparing machines to its members in SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 105 the form of microcredit. Moreover, one decorticating machine has been installed at the com- munity site which the members can use. One incubator and a bakery oven have been im- ported from Sri Lanka which would be used for additional livelihood projects. The impact of the IPGRI-COGENT project has yet to be fully assessed. Nevertheless, all 100 community members (80 women and 20 men) have received training on coconut based intercropping and 43 members are now adopting the technology in their farms. A case study on five CBO members with holdings of 3500 sq m each have made an average net income of US$ 100.93 in six months. Moreover, the members had used some of their har- vests for home consumption. A case study conducted on six CBO members engaged in livestock production shows that the average net income was US$ 136.91. On the other hand, five members of the CBO who had started their projects on high value products made a modest US$ 31.14. Considered as a major impact of the project so far is the development of coconut diver- sity in the community. Three high yielding and three high-value coconut varieties were identified and these are now propagated in community nurseries for eventual planting by members. The establishment of the CBO has also developed some sense of leadership among the members. People in other communities who have come to know of the positive results of the interventions introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT project are now trying to replicate the programt in their own villages.

“Microcredit helps create gainful employment” Success story of the microcredit and revolving fund system of the Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

Credit, no matter how small, when combined with the right training and guidance can be the key to transform the lives of poor farm families. Just like what happened to 100 members of the Chandrapara Coconut Community in Barisal, Bangladesh. The Chandrapara Coconut Community is the CBO (community-based organization) implementing the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT which was launched in the village in 2002. As part of the project’s strategy, a revolving fund was formed from which members can borrow some money to fund their individual as well as group projects. As the members who consist of 83 women and 17 men did not have the skills and know- how in various money-making projects, the CBO conducted trainings on several income- generating activities. These include intercropping, nursery management, livestock rearing, and production of high-value coconut byproducts. The microcredit as well as the trainings have given new opportunities to the members who did not have any regular source of income before the launching of the COGENT project. As of the middle of 2004, a total of US$ 1762.40 had been disbursed for various projects. Those who engaged in a coconut nursery borrowed US$ 73.04 to buy the seednuts and other inputs. A total of US$ 98.79 was also borrowed by those who engaged in making high- value coconut products. Those who engaged in intercropping had borrowed US$ 668.28 while those in livestock rearing had borrowed US$ 822.29. Under the micro credit system, about 15 rope making machines and 10 doormat making machines have been loaned out from the CBO revolving fund. These have helped many of the members to process their coconut husks into products of high value. The impact of the COGENT project could be considered very significant in uplifting the economic and social status of the poor farm families. The micro credit system, particularly, has accelerated the adoption of coconut-based income generating technologies. 106 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Women discover the potentials of a coconut nursery” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

Lack of planting materials of high-yielding coconut varieties has been a major problem in Bandabila, a coconut-growing community in Bagharpara, Jessore, Bangladesh. That is why when the coconut poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT was launched in the area in 2002, one of the priorities was to establish a community nursery to propagate superior vari- eties. Another purpose was to train the residents how to put up a nursery of their own which could be a source of income for them. As a strategy of the IPGRI-COGENT project, a community-based organization (CBO) was formed to implement it. The CBO provided free trainings on possible income-generat- ing activities which could be undertaken by the members of the families in Bandabila, espe- cially the women who mostly stayed at home without any means of earning an income. The CBO was also the source of micro credit for members who don’t have the capital to start their own projects. A total of 84 women and 16 men took up training in starting and managing a coconut nursery. After that, the CBO put up a community-managed nursery so that the members could have hands-on experience in running the nursery as a business, earning some income in the process. Initially, the CBO members purchased 1000 seednuts worth US$ 138.43 for germination in the nursery. The people, mostly women, who rendered service were paid for their work in the nursery. After one year, the coconut seedlings were sold to members of the CBO who planted a few each in their coconut gardens. For their labor in the nursery, a total of US$ 281.19 was paid to them. The net profit of the nursery, on the other hand, was US$ 134.11. That’s not so bad for an operation that involved the growing of just 1000 seednuts. That is why they again procured another batch of 1000 seednuts of the identified farmers’ high-yielding varieties for propagation the fol- lowing year. As a result of the success of the nursery operation, some members of the CBO are think- ing of venturing into putting up their own nursery operation, no matter how modest, in their own little farms. The establishment of the nursery and the discussions on the importance of planting the right coconut varieties have resulted in the planting of some 1152 seedlings of BARI Narikel 1 and 2 which are high-yielding. On the average, the members have planted 11 seedlings in their own lots. The members have become confident as they have discovered that they can succeed in their projects with their combined efforts. The spirit of cooperation and sharing has been developed among them through their working together. The nursery is not just a good source of high quality planting materials. It promises to be a profitable project as well. Non-members from neighboring localities who have visited the community nursery have also shown interest in putting up their own nurseries.

”This is the way” Success story of the livestock production group, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

A five-member group (Ferdousy Begum, Momtaj Begum, Laxman Chandra, Farida Begum and Rahima Begum) at Bandabila community engaged in livestock production under a co- conut-based farming system. They concentrated on chicken and goat raising. Before ven- turing into the enterprise, the group was exposed and trained on different options that they SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 107 could pursue in their farm lots. Sharing a common interest in raising chicken and goat, the group worked together very well. The absence of one or two members in certain occasions did not dampen the enthusiasm and spirit of cooperation of the rest of the group. They solved problems together and shared knowledge, skills and time. They decided to raise im- proved breeds of chicken known as ‘Sonali’ and ‘Faomi’ variety which were given to them in a form of a loan. For goat rearing, they chose the world-renowed breed, Black Bengal Goat. As a result of their combined efforts, they successfully raised the livestock and gained a net income of US $204.15 from US $77.86 loan on micro credit. Each member of the group now enjoys an annual income ranging from US$ 34.60 to US$ 55.37. From an almost nil income, this amount is significant as this represents an additional resource for the family needs. The additional income is just one of the direct benefits to the family. From their chicken production, their immediate families are assured of supply of chicken and eggs known to be good sources of protein. In addition, the benefits spill over to their relatives who often get free chicken and eggs courtesy of this group of five. Having gained confidence as a group, they also tried formulating a local feed for chicken and learned to apply chicken dung to enrich the soil. They also planted improved varieties of coconut, BARI Coconut 1 and 2. This group of five is definitely in for more benefits not only for themselves but for a good number to people. Expectedly, because of this group’s success more coconut farmers within and outside their community are encouraged to go into similar project. Definitely, they have shown the way to reduce poverty.

“Lives intertwined by twined products” Success story of a high-value coconut-fibre based products group, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

A group of coconut farmers in Bandabila banded together to produce rope and doormats. All members of this group have low income ranging from US$ 20 to US$ 40 per year. They are also poorly educated having reached only elementary education. All are resource-poor with average farm area of 0.08 ha. With their meager resources, no formal credit institution would touch them even with a ten-foot pole. Poor as they are, there share a common dream of better life for their families. The independent lives of these five, intertwined when they joined a community-based organization (CBO) that serves as a focal point for a coconut-related project in their village. As members of the CBO, they were given training on organization and management inter- cropping, livestock production, high-value product preparation, and nursery management. What excited them most was the training on rope and doormat-making which they see as good opportunity to augment their income. After the training, they applied for loan and were granted micro credit in form of five rope and doormat preparing machines worth US$ 129.78. They did not only acquire skills but also received financial assistance. In addition, whenever they encountered problems they sought the assistance of scientists from the Hor- ticulture Research Centre of BARI who are always ready to help. The project ensured that there is a technical support team for the farmers. The involvement of the group in the project slowly transformed their lives. Since they are exposed to other possibilities for coconut, they were encouraged to plant improved vari- eties of coconut. They have also maximized the use of their time by devoting them in pro- ducing high-value products like rope and doormats which are very saleable. Today, their family income has substantially increased by at least US$ 30 coming from the group’s an- nual income of US$ 150. The additional income will make a difference in the life of their family members particu- larly the children. More than the tangible benefits are the changes in the attitude of the group members. 108 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

They now feel an enhanced sense of responsibility and commitment to sustain the success of the project and continue improving their lives. The benefits accruing to the group and the changes in their outlook are so obvious that other members of the CBO and coconut growers from nearby villages are showing interest to follow the group’s example.

“Meet the fab five of intercropping in Bandabila” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Bandabila Coconut Community, Bandabila, Jessore, Bangladesh

Given the right motivation, training and guidance, even the poorest of the very poor women, can engage into a rewarding activity. Just like five housewives in the poor coconut growing community in Bondabila, Chandrapara, Bagugang, Barisal, Bangladesh. After becoming members of the community- based organization implementing the COGENT poverty reduction project in 2002, they at- tended various seminars on different income-generating projects. The five women who did not have any gainful employment - Nazrul Islam, Bishowjit Kumar, Azizul Islam, Shila Ray and Shoburan Nessa - decided to form a group that would get into intercropping of vegetables in their little coconut farms. Because they did not have the money of their own to purchase the seeds and other inputs, they borrowed US$ 51.91 from the CBO’s revolving fund. Their intercrops include aroid, ash gourd, sweet gourd, bitter gourd, chili, turmeric, teasle gourd and papaya. And what have they achieved in just a few croppings? They have gained US$ 415.27 from intercropping by selling the produce in the market. Equally important is the fact that their intercropping project has provided fresh vegetables for the members’ household con- sumption. Some of their harvests were also given as gift to relatives and friends. The women did not only plant vegetables. They also planted new seedlings of selected high-yielding coconuts in their gardens. These, too, will eventually provide more income for the families. One encouraging development is that other members of the community have seen the benefits from intercropping and they have become interested in engaging in the same activity.

“IPGRI-COGENT project gives new life to a poor coconut community” Success story of the Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

Chandrapara, a village of 30 000 people in Babuganj, Barisal, Bangladesh, is like most poor coconut growing communities. The farmers have very small landholdings and they grow mostly the low-yielding varieties. The farmers don’t have the necessary skills as well as the capital to undertake income generating activities in their farms. As a result, they don’t have enough income to buy even the most basic necessities. Somehow, the outlook for the village has changed for the better after the IPGRI-CO- GENT poverty reduction project was launched in the village in 2002. To achieve the objec- tive of improving the economic status of the poor coconut farmers, the project set up the Chandrapara Coconut Community as implementor of the program. The CBO was then given a revolving fund for conducting trainings on various income generating projects and a micro credit scheme was put in place. With the trainings on inter- cropping, livestock production, nursery management and production of high-value coconut products, many of the 100 members of the CBO availed themselves of micro credit either as a group or as individuals. And the results? A total of US$ 1762.99 has been disbursed for various money-making activities; US$ 668.28 was lent to members who engaged in intercropping; $822.28 for those in livestock production; US$ 98.78 for high value products processing; and $173.04 for nurs- SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 109 ery production. The program, through a Diversity Fair, has identified some high-yielding trees as well as high-value varieties which are now being multiplied in the community nursery. Eventually, these will yield more nuts for the farmers in the village. The training on livestock production and feed formulation has benefited a lot of the members. Some 50 women and 11 men are now engaged in livestock and poultry produc- tion. In a case study conducted on 5 CBO members engaged in animal production, the average net income from a holding of 0.37 hectare was US$ 77.86 annually. In the case of intercroppers, the average net income per year from a holding of 0.37 hectare was US$ 112.47 per year. Of course, the members also benefited from the fresh vegetables that they themselves consumed. In the case of five women involved in rope and doormat-making, the average net income was about US$ 38.54. Considered a most important impact of the project is the development of coconut diver- sity in the community. Three high yielding and three high-value varieties were identified and these are now in the process of multiplication in community nurseries. As of June 2004, a total of 571 high quality seedlings of selected ecotypes have been planted by the CBO members.

“Nursery propagates high-yielding seednuts” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

One of the projects espoused by the COGENT poverty reduction project in coconut growing communities launched in 2002 is the establishment of nurseries to propagate high-yielding varieties. The nursery will assure the availability of superior trees that will eventually improve coconut production in the community. At the same time, the nursery could become a money- making enterprise the community can undertake as a group or as an individual project. And so a coconut community nursery was set up by the Chandrapara Coconut Com- munity in Bangladesh with all the 100 members involved in its establishment and manage- ment. The first batch of 1000 seednuts produced 700 seedlings which were bought by the members themselves, mostly through microcredit, for planting in their own coconut gar- dens. The project was immediately profitable. The project made a net income of US$ 173.04 from the first batch. But that is not just the benefit for the members. The people who ren- dered service in running the nursery were paid the total of US$ 302.82. That means employ- ment for the members who worked who are mostly women with no income previously. The nursery project has already repaid its loan from the CBO and has prepared for another batch of 1000 seednuts to be propagated coming from known high-yielding trees. The setting up of the nursery has opened the eyes of the members on one more profitable project they could undertake. Equally important is the fact that as better quality planting materials are available, production of coconuts in the community will eventually improve. And that will mean a better life for the farm families.

“Women’s group makes money from ropes and doormats” Success story of a high-value coconut-fibre based products group, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

This is the story of five women who only stayed at home and did not have any income three years ago. Today, as a group they are now making at least US$ 170.50 annually. The amount may seem modest, but to the women of Chandrapara, Babugang, Barisal in 110 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Bangladesh, that means a lot not only in money terms but also in greater self-confidence. The women are members of the Chandrapara Coconut Community, the CBO which was formed to implement the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project launched in 2002. After undergoing training given free by the CBO, the five women - Sharosoti Biswas, Peryo Bala, Sangkari Das, Aroti Biswas and Kanon Bala - formed themselves into a group that would engage in making ropes and doormats. Working as a group has its advantages. One advantage is that they can borrow a bigger amount from the CBO if they work as one group. And that’s exactly what they did after attending a training on rope and doormat making. They borrowed from the CBO five door- mat-making machines and made a net profit of US$ 170.50 in one year. The members work in their own homes but they market their produce as a group. They also procure their materials as a group. Marketing their products is not a problem. They sell their ropes at US$ 1 a kilo and their doormats at also US$ 1 each. As a result of their money-making project, the members of the group have experienced a positive change in their lives. They can now afford to buy more of their basic necessities. Equally important is the fact that the neighbors are being encouraged to engage in the same money-making project.

“Intercropping gives them daily income” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

One reason why most of the members of the community-based organization (CBO) choose intercropping as a project is that it gives them income practically everyday. That’s the expe- rience of members of the Chandrapara Coconut Community, the CBO implementing the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project in Chandrapara, a poor coconut growing village in Barisal, Bangladesh. Five members who formed a group so they can undertake intercropping collectively, for instance, borrowed US$ 69.21 from the revolving fund of the CBO to buy vegetable seeds and other inputs for their project. In one year, they made a net profit of US$ 1038.24 from the sale of their produce. In addition, they were able to share some of their harvests to relatives and friends, and of course for their own consumption. The five members - Dilip Kumar Mandal, Shikha Mandal, Kalpona Mandal, Sanjay Ray and Manob Mandal - have really become more enterprising after attending the trainings on various livelihood projects given free by the CBO. The group has planted about 100 coconut seedlings of the BARI Coconut 1 and 2 at the intercropping area. And that’s only for a start. They plan to plant more of the superior varieties. The group has also gone into fish produc- tion in one pond. But of course, the main project remains to be intercropping of such vegetables as Indian spinach, ash gourd, sweet gourd, cucumber, snake gourd, bitter gourd and papaya. That’s because inercropping is where they get the cash flow practically everyday.

“Livestock raising is for women, too” Success story of the women’s coconut-based livestock production group, Chandrapara Coconut Community, Barisal, Bangladesh

A little capital plus technical training can go a long way in helping underprivileged women in a coconut growing community to help themselves. Just like five women who grouped themselves so they can raise hybrid chickens and goats in their small homesteads in Chandrapara, a village in Bangladesh where the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT was launched in 2002. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 111

The five women – Md. Wahiduzzaman, Kalpona Rani Das, Laxi Rani Ray, Shanu Begum and Shokumer Hazari – attended the free trainings on livestock and poultry raising offered by the Chandrapara CBO which implements the IPGRI-COGENT project. After that, they availed themselves of a micro credit amounting to US$ 77.86 which they used to buy the chicks from the government chicken farm, and goats from the local market. In one year, the group made a net profit of US$ 118.16 from their animal projects. That’s not only the benefit they derived. Their families consumed some of the eggs and meat they produced, hence enhancing the nutrition of their family members. Their income may not seem much. But that’s just the beginning. What’s important is that they have started to integrate a money-making activity in their small coconut gardens. Their animal raising project could expand and bring more benefits for the group members as they gain more experience and more capital.. In a way, the women members of the group who did not have any gainful project previ- ously have been empowered. They have discovered that somehow they can do something gainful by themselves, especially when working as a team. 112 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

India success stories

Velamoor Rajagopal1 and PK Thampan2 1Director, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI); and 2President, Peekay Tree Crops Development Foundation (PTCDF), Kerala, India

Individual farmer success stories

“Meet Pallikkara’s Model Farmer” Success story of Mr PV Koran, coconut-based integrated farming, Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikara, Kasaragod, India

In every place, you will always meet people who are more enterprising than others. That is also true in the village of Pallikkara in Pallippuzha District, Kerala State, India. Acclaimed as the model farmer in the village is 63-year-old P.V. Koran who has adopted an intensive integrated farming in his 0.32-hectare coconut farm. By adopting this mixed farming system, he has been making a net income of Rs 93 775 (US$ 2131.25) a year. Under Pallikkara conditions, this is considered a high income. Aside from his 56 high-yielding palm trees, you might find Mr. Koran attending to his Jersey cows, two of them in the milk line, each giving him an average of 10 liters a day. The milk is sold at Rs 15 (US$ 0.34) per liter to the local tea shops and neighboring households. You might also find him cultivating or weeding his turmeric planted under coconut trees. One time, he harvested 5.9 tons from his turmeric crop, five tons of which was sold for Rs 100 000 (US$ 2272.73). After deducting his expenses, he was able to make a net profit of Rs 40 000 (US$ 909.10). Mr. Koran has also intercroped banana and black pepper in his coconut farm, both of which are contributing to his annual income. One project that is expected to contribute more to his annual income is vermicomposting. As of the period covered by this report, he has started his vermicomposting project, using as substrate his cow manure and coconut farm wastes. Vermicompost can be a money maker for Mr. Koran because of the increasing interest in organic farming in India. When the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction was introduced in Pallikkara in 2002, P.V. Koran was one of the first to welcome it. He became an original member of of the CBO and was unanimously elected as its treasurer. He attendd several training programs related to coconut-based farming systems. These include intercropping of yams and cococasia, elephant foot yam, pepper, turmeric, banana and pineapple. The techniques he learned in these training programs were not kept to himself. He has been sharing his know-how and experiences to other members of the CBO as well as to non- member neighbors. One time, he shared his experiences in integrated coconut farming through a radio program broadcast on All India Radio, Kannur Station. As an officer and active member of the CBO, he has been active in convincing other farmers of his locality about the benefits that could be derived from the IPGRI-COGENT project. He is instrumental in organizing women’s self-help groups in his community and linking them to the CBO so they can be assisted in producing and marketing high-value products from coconuts. Mr. Koran’s achievements have not been unrecognized. The CPCRI recently felicitated him for being one of the best cultivators in the district. Similarly, Krishibhavan, a local office of the State Department of Agriculture, also cited him for his success in farming. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 113

“An unlikely source of money” Success story of Ms A Lekha, organic coconut farming (vermicomposting), Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikara, Kasaragod, India

Ms A Lekha, an enterprising 25-year old farm woman, has a big responsibility on her tender shoulders—to provide for her family of five members out of her family’s meager resources. Their homestead is only 0.5 ha with part of it planted to 15 coconuts. The nuts and copra pro- duced from the farm are mostly used for home consumption leaving very little marketable sur- plus. She tried to augment her income by en- gaging in beedi (tobacco leaves) rolling but this neither fetched her steady employment nor suf- ficient income. With her financial status, she is therefore, on a constant lookout for opportuni- ties to increase her earnings. Ms Lekha saw a beam of hope from a project launched by IPGRI-COGENT. She ea- gerly attended the “Enterpreneurship Develop- ment Programme on Value Addition in Coco- nut” organized by PCCDC under the project for women at Pallikkara village, Kasaragod on July 21-31, 2003. Although there were many possible enterprises presented to the partici- pants, she decided that vermicomposting would Creepy, but worth it. Ms A Lekha showing her “unlikely source of income” - earthworms. Her vermicomposting be appropriate for her considering the it will enterprise not only gives her and her family enough income need small area that will fit into her equally to provide for their everyday needs but also benefits other small farm. Having decided on this, she tried as coconut farmers - and the environment - as well by providing an inexpensive organic fertilizer for their coconut palms much as she could to learn the basics of and other intercrops vermicomposting. Subsequent developments worked for Ms Lekha’s favor. Except for the earthworms (Eudrilus spp) which were procured from Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), most of the inputs needed for her preferred enterprise like coconut leaves and other farm wastes are locally available. This makes sourc- ing of materials easier for Ms Lekha. The Panchayat Raj at block level provided financial assistance worth Rs 1950 (US$ 44.70) for the construction of cement tank for the vermicompost unit while scientists from CPCRI provided technical guidance. When eveything was in place, A Lekha’s family chipped in by providing labor under her watchful eyes to ensure its success. Their efforts were rewarded with a net income of Rs 2500 (US$ 57.30) for one cycle of vermicomposting within 2- to 3-month period producing about 500 kg of high quality or- ganic matter. During the peak of agricultural season, she did not encounter problem in marketing her products as these were easily sold in the community itself particularly to the local areca nut growers. Sometimes she received demand for huge quantities beyond the capacity of her compost unit. Although there were parts of the year that when demand was discouraging. But Ms Lekha is not disheartened because she considers this fluctuating na- ture of demand as a temporary situation. She looks forward to a steady demand because there is now a project of Krishibravan, the local office of the State Agricultural Department to promote the use of vermicompost. Under this initiative, the demand for vermicompost is expected to increase and stabilize. Ms Lekha is optimistic that she will benefit from this move by the State Department of Agriculture. 114 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

She continues to observe the performance of her composting unit and keeps her eyes open for further improvement. She has now expanded her enterprise by selling earthworms. She has been approached by an NGO based in Bangalore to train women members of a self- help group on the production of vermicompost using coconut leaves. She is now realizing that things commonly overlooked like farm waste and earthworms can be converted into cash. What she might not yet realize is the fact that in her effort to provide sustenance for her family, she has contributed to efficient natural resource manage- ment in her community where materials which would otherwise go to waste are recycled to produce high quality organic matter. The organic matter in turn when used by the farmers in the village will result to improvement of soil conditions and yield performance of their economic crops. Both Ms Lekha’s family and nature benefit from her efforts. Mother Earth must be smiling kindly towards her direction.

“Dairying can be integrated even in a small coconut farm” Success story of Mr PV Koran, coconut-based livestock (dairy) raising and fodder production, Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikara, Kasaragod, India (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based Livestock Production’ award)

One does not need a big farm in order to get into some kind of dairying. Even a coconut farm as small as 0.32 hectare will do. Just like what P.V. Koran has been doing in his little coconut farm in Pallikara, Pallippuzha District in Kerala State, India. Among other projects integrated in his farm, he is raising five Jersey cows, two of which are in the milk line. To make it possible, he has been planting fodder crops in spaces under his coconut trees. These include Congo Signal grass, Para grass and Hybrid Napier. These forage crops plus some commercial feed are enough to keep his dairy animals productive. He is collecting an average of 10 liters of milk per head which he sells at Rs 15 (US$ 0.34) per liter to the local tea shops and neighboring households. In one year he was able to produce 1682.5 liters of milk, 1500 liters of which were sold for Rs 15 000 (US$ 341). The rest was consumed by his family that includes his wife and two sons. Aside from milk, he was able to sell six head of male calves worth Rs 31 000 (US$ 705). That year, Mr. Koran was able to realize a net income of Rs 29 625 (US$ 673.30) from his livestock project. It is also possible for him to earn money from fodder crops by selling planting materials. In fact, he earned Rs 4000 (US$ 91) one time by selling fodder grass slips to CPCRI for on- farm trials. He also supplies the slips to other needy farmers but these are given free to them. As an integrated farmer, Mr. Koran makes other incomes from intercrops of turmeric, cassava, banana, black pepper and of course from his coconut trees which are considered productive by Pallikkara standards. He is harvesting an average of 120 nuts a year per tree. A promising new project is vermiculture. He has started a vermicomposting project us- ing his cow manure and coconut farm wastes as substrate. He had recently constructed a cement tank with a capacity of five tons for vermicomposting. By the way, all these money-making projects of P.V. Koran were the result of the poverty reduction project introduced in 2002 in Pallikkara by IPGRI-COGENT through the Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Center. Mr. Koran was one of the first to welcome the IPGRI-COGENT project. In fact, he was unanimously elected as treasurer of PCCDC, the CBO that implements it. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 115

“70-year-old farmer makes money from intercropping” Success story of Mr K Kunhambu, coconut-based intecropping, Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikara, Kasaragod, India (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based Intercropping’ award)

Mr K Kunhambu, a 70-year-old coconut farmer in the village of Pallikkara district in Kerala, India, used to make just a total of Rs 5000 (US$ 113.63) a year - Rs 3000 (US$ 68.18) from the sale of fresh coconuts harvested from 75 bearing palms, and another Rs 2000 (US$ 45.45) from areca nut. Thanks to the poverty reduction project introduced by IPGRI-COGENT through the Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Center, Kunhambu Maniyani is now making an additional income of Rs 10 000 to 12 000 (US$ 227.27 to US$ 272.72) a year from ba- nanas, cassava and two other intercrops in his 0.88-hectare holding. In one year, from his planting of the Nendran banana variety in a portion of his prop- erty, he was able to harvest 785 kilos of fruits which he sold for Rs 7850 (US$ 178.41). And from his cassava crop, he was able to make an income of Rs 4000 (US$ 90.91) from a harvest of one ton. In addition, he had set aside 200 kilos of cassava and 67 kilos of bananas for home consumption as well as for giving away. Additional income of Rs 1000 (US$ 22.73) was also derived from cowpea and Bhendi. He is very thankful for having discovered the income potential of intercropping. While he has been involved in farming for a long time, Kunhambu did not realize that there could be other sources of income from his coconut farm. His eyes were opened to the new possibilities when he attended some of the free trainings on livelihood projects conducted by the PCCDC which is implementing the poverty reduc- tion project of IPGRI-COGENT. He says now that his come from intercropping is much better than the daily wage of Rs 5 (US$ 0.11) he used to make as an agricultural laborer during his younger days. With his increased income, Mr. Maniyani now enjoys some of the better amenities in life like having an AM/FM radio, a television set and a cellphone. He also lives with his three children in a house with tile roofing.

“Practical interventions transform poor coco farmer” Success story of Mr Anbu, integrated coconut-based farming system, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

The free trainings on various income-generating activities conducted by the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project among coconut farmers has changed the lives of many poor coco- nut growers for the better. One very good example is Mr. Anbu, 55, of Ariyankuppam Commune in Pondicherry in the east coast of India. He used to derive his income mainly from his coconut trees on three acres of land and one acre of rice, making an annual net income of Rs 55 000 (US$ 1250). When the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched in his community in November 2002, he became a member of the community-based organization (CBO) that implemented the poverty-reduction project, and attended all the lectures and seminars given free by the CBO, the Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Farmers Association (ACCFA). The transformation of Mr. Anbu started soon after the project was launched. Before that, he hardly had any social contact with officials of the Department of Agriculture. His social attitude, however, had completely changed after becoming a member of the CBO. And at present, he is rated as the best coconut farmer in Ariyankuppam undertaking fiber production as an additional source of income. The trainings he has attended have opened new opportunities for his wife and children, too. They now actively participate in the production and monitoring of the coir processing operations as well as in other activities such as the gathering and storing of mature and tender nuts, fertilizing, etc. 116 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

The coir processing project of Mr. Anbu has had a good start in helping increase the family’s annual income. Although, the net profit from the coir project is a modest Rs 8900 (US$ 202.27) in the first year, the family members had also received income from the labor they rendered. The labor cost for the entire year, for instance, totaled Rs 54 000 (US$ 1227.27). As a result of the promising start in coir processing, he is bent on expanding this project with the technical guidance from the coconut research institute and other facilities offered by ACCFA. Because of the IPGRI-COGENT project, Mr. Anbu is also deriving additional income from other projects he has integrated in his 4-acre farm. He has intercropped banana and various vegetables which, besides giving some income, are supplying them some of their household needs. In sum, the IPGRICOGENT project has transformed Mr. Anbu into a more enterprising coconut farmer. He is not only thinking of his family’s welfare. In fact, he has been freely sharing his own know-how and experiences with his fellow farmers.

“College graduate opts to be a hands-on farmer; is an inspiration in his village” Success story of Mr C Ganech, integrated coconut-based farming system, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

Not many college graduates go back to the farm and do actual farming. One very good exception is C. Ganech, 29, who has a postgraduate degree in horticulture. He is a member of the Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Farmers Association (ACCFA) in Pondicherry, a coconut growing district in the Indian east coast. When the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT was launched in Ariyankuppam in November 2002, Ganech joined the ACCFA and has been one of the most active members of the organization. He does not only practice what he has learned from the various liveli- hood trainings given free by the CBO. He has been acting as a major facilitator of the train- ing program. Together with his father, Ganech manages a coconut-based integrated farm in which dairy is a major component. Part of the operation is a two-acre coconut farm planted to several varieties, including East Coast Tall, Tall x Dwarf, Dwarf x Tall, Spicata, etc. In a portion of the two acres, he grows Co-3 fodder grass as source of feed for his dairy animals. He is also cultivating vegetables such as bhendi and other greens in a 0.5 acre portion of the coconut garden. In the remaining nine acres of his farm, he is cultivating four acres for rice, half an acre for banana, three acres for Cumbu Napier grass and half acre for moringa. He maintains a mushroom production unit in a half acre and another half acre for vermicomposting. He has also started producing coir pith compost. Mr. Ganech is a highly enterprising farmer who maintains 35 dairy cows and 8 calves, 14 buffaloes and 6 calves. In addition, he also has some ducks and chickens. Although he produces a lot of grass for his dairy animals, he also buys commercial feeds to provide a balanced nutrition for his livestock. His dairy operation is quite profitable. His annual profit from dairying is enough to meet the operational requirements of his other farm projects and some investment to boot. His intercrop of bhendi gives him a net income of Rs 5000 (US$ 113.64) a year while other greens give him another Rs 3000 (US$ 68.18). The vermicomposting unit is another profitable operation. During peak production pe- riod, he could produce five tons of vermicompost a month and two tons per month during the lean period. On the average, he sells his vermicompost at Rs 4500 (US$ 102.27) per ton. Mr. Ganech is the first person to introduce the concept of vermi-wash production in the Union Territory of Pondicherry. He is also the pioneer coconut farmer to introduce coir pith composting in Ariyankuppam. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 117

Ganech also maintains a mushroom production unit in his farm with a production of 25 kilos a day from July to January and three kilos a day from February to June. Mr. Ganech uses just minimal amounts of chemical fertilizer on his crops. He usually applies 12 tons of farm manure per acre and neem leaves at 200 to 300 kilos per acre. As top dressing he applies 50 kilos of urea, 50 kilos of superphosphate and 30 kilos of ammonium chloride. An average yield of 2.5 tons per acre is usually obtained. He also plants bananas but not for the fruits. He harvests the leaves for sale to hotels and other establishments. From this project, he makes Rs 36 000 (US$ 818.18) per year. A truly diversified operation, Ganech also maintains two ponds for carp production. He raises the Cutlar, Rogue, Mirgal and Silver carp. He makes an average net profit of Rs 20 000 (US$ 455) a year from his fish project. The farming operations of Mr. Ganech has bolstered the faith of the members of his family in coconut farming. He also remains as an inspiration to neighboring farmers, rela- tives and friends. By the way, he is also a director of a voluntary organization called Society for Environ- ment and Agricultural Development (SEAD). Its objective is to train farmers on sustainable farming in the community as well as in the neighboring areas. Members of the SEAD execu- tive committee are eminent persons who are well qualified scholars in the field of agriculture and environment.

“Farmer makes money from animals and grasses” Success story of Mr S Subramaniam, livestock raising in a coconut-based farming system, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

Mr. S. Subramanian, 48, is not really the poorest of the poor coconut farmers. He lives in Ariyankuppam Commune Panchayat, a traditional coconut belt located in the east coast of India, just about 10 kilometers from Pondicherry City. He has a 2-acre coconut farm with 370 palm trees and a one-acre area for growing rice. The soil is fairly fertile so that his coconut palms, 80 percent of which are of bearing age, produce170 to 200 nuts per tree per year. By selling most of his harvest as tender nuts, he realizes 50 percent of his total yearly income from his coconuts. He has also planted 500 bananas in between his coconut trees which give him an average profit of Rs 10 000 (US$ 227.27) a year. And from his rice farm, he produces three crops a year giving him average net returns of Rs 6000 (US$ 136.36) annually. Not really bad for a farm family largely de- pending on coconuts. The income potential from the farm, however, could still be augmented. And that’s what happened after the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched in Ariyankuppam in November 2002. Subramanian became a member of Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association (ACCFA) which implemented the poverty reduction project. And through the free trainings on various money-making projects that he attended, he discovered the poten- tials of livestock and poultry raising as well as fodder grass production. He soon started his livestock and poultry project which now include seven milk cows, a calf, six goats and 12 layers. At the same time, he planted fodder grass such as Cumbu Napier and Co-3. These are mainly fed to his animals but some are also sold to others who need them for their own farm animals. In fact, he makes a marginal profit of Rs 2000-3000 (US$ 45-68) a year from the sale of grass to other farmers. In his first year of raising livestock and poultry, he grossed 6,000 rupees from the sale of milk, realizing a modest net income of Rs 2000 (US$ 45). What is important, however, is that part of his milk production is consumed by the members of his family consisting of his wife and three sons. With the passing of time, he expects to gain more from his farm animals. He expects to make money from his goats, too. As per the experience of members of the ACCFA, goats for meat purposes can give a net profit of Rs 750 (US$ 17) per head. On the 118 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III other hand, goats for breeding can give a net return of 1500 rupees per head. From poultry, the net return per head is about Rs 100 (US$ 2.27) per year. Another benefit from his livestock project is the manure which he uses as organic fertil- izer for his fodder crops, his coconuts and other crops. On the whole, Subramanian is very thankful that the poverty reduction project of IPGRI- COGENT was introduced in Ariyunkappam. Through the free trainings he attended, he has discovered that livestock and poultry could be successfully integrated in coconut farming.

“Raising livestock and poultry has its own advantages” Success story of Mr C Ganesh, coconut-based livestock (poultry) raising, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

Livestock and poultry can be profitably integrated even in small coconut farms, such as those in Arinyakuppam, a community of small scale coconut farmers in Pondicherry in the east coast of India. As one of the major interventions introduced to the community by the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT, small-scale animal production has significantly increased the incomes of the farmers. Just like Mr. C. Ganech, for instance, who makes a net return of over Rs 10 000 (US$ 227.27) from dairying. Other farmers have gone into broiler raising, using the improved Giriraja breed which can produce a net return of Rs 140 (US$ 3.18) per bird; goats for meat purposes, Rs 800 (US$ 18.18) per head; goats for breeding, Rs 2000 (US$ 45.45) per head; and Cumbu Napier grass, Rs 30 500 (US$ 693.18) per acre per year. There are other benefits from animal raising aside from meat, milk and eggs for sale and home consumption, breeding animals and grass for sale. One important byproduct of ani- mal raising is the dung produced which is used to enrich the soil for growing various high- value crops. Many members of the CBO are fully convinced about the advantages of raising animals together with coconuts. The Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Farmers Association (ACCFA) which is imple- menting the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project has proven to be an effective tool in helping the farmers to help themselves. The continuing training given to the farmers for free on various income-generating projects, and linking them with relevant government and private agencies, has given new hope to the community.

“Farmer makes 25 000 to 20 000 rupees a year from intercropping” Success story of Mr V Dhanrasu, coconut-based intecropping, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

Different farmers make money from different projects. That usually depends on the suitabil- ity of the farm for a particular project as well as the inclination of the farmer. In the case of V. Dhanrasu, 62, who has four acres of coconut trees in two locations, his preference is intercropping of various vegetables and other cash crops. He is a member of the Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Farmers Association (ACCFA), the community based organization (CBO) tasked to implement the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT launched in his village in November 2002. After attending the various seminars and lectures on income-generating projects given free to CBO members, he chose intercropping as his own project. He now cultivates a wide variety of intercrops such as tapioca, banana, amaranths, bhendi, brinjal, bitter gourd, snake gourd, chillies and even flowers such as chrysanthemum. The seed materials are supplied by ACCFA and the State Department of Agriculture. From his intercrops, he makes an additional Rs 15 000 to 20 000 (US$ 341 to US$ 454.55) SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 119 a year. That’s a considerable amount to augment his annual income from coconuts of Rs 50 000 (US$ 1136.36). Mr. Dhanrasu also makes money from another project. He has a milk cow that gives him an annual net income of Rs 2000 (US$ 45.45), not to mention the milk consumed by his family. The cow also produces some manure for fertilizing his plants. Like most other farmers covered by the IPGRI-COGENT’s poverty reduction project, Mr. Dhanrasu is very thankful for the benefits he has received from being a member of the CBO. In return, he is sharing his know-how with other members of the community.

“Making the most out of what you have” Success story of Mr V Asokan, integrated coconut farming, Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India

For most marginal coconut farmers in India, land is one of the biggest con- straints in earning enough income to live a decent life. But not for 42-year old Mr. V Asokan, a coconut farmer from Pattanakkad, Vayalar. He has successfully demonstrated that even a small area of only 0.4 hectare can be made profitable through an integrated coconut-based farming system as es- poused by the ADB-funded "Poverty reduction in coconut growing commu- nities" project of IPGRI-COGENT and Peekay Tree Crops Development Mr Asokan and his family with one of their prized vegetable intercrops. Foundation (PTCDF). With training and loans from VCDC, Mr Asokan upgraded his 0.4 ha Mr V Asokan inherited the 0.4- monoculture coconut farm into a highly-productive and diversified hectare farm as his share of the family coconut-based integrated enterprise property, which is his only source of livelihood. In his farm he has 70 coconut palms, 25 arecanut palms, 100 pepper vines, over 350 banana plants, root and tuber crops, vegetables, miscellaneous tree species, and live- stock comprising of three lactating cows, three calves, a goat and some poultry. Although he and his wife, Mini, devoted their full time managing the farm, they could only earn a net annual income of Rs 25 000 (US$ 568) from their on-farm activities. With two children to raise, his farm income was just not enough to cover their basic needs, much less pay for the children’s schooling and other household expenses. Although Mr. Asokan has been inter- cropping and rearing livestock in his farm, the lack of information on modern production technologies, access to easy-term credit facilities and inadequate marketing support con- strained him in fully optimizing the potential of his farm. When the project came in 2002, Mr. Asokan joined the Vayalar Community Develop- ment Centre (VCDC) and then underwent training in intensive coconut-based integrated farming. Using his newfound farm management and technical skills, and with microcredit and marketing support from VCDC, he overhauled his farm and his farming operations. Two and a half years later, Mr. Asokan now earns a gross income of Rs 215 336 (US$ 4894), or a net income of Rs 114 708 (US$ 2607) a year from the same 0.4 hectare of farm, or 450% his previous farm income! He has also started to replace his old and unproductive coconut stands with the high-value and high-yielding varieties from the VCDC-managed nurseries to increase his coconut production. Now, Mr Asokan is regarded in Vayalar as a model farmer, motivating other farmers in the village as well as in neighboring villages to adopt better farming practices to improve the productivity of their farms to generate more income. Above all, Mr Asokan is living proof that it is not what you have that matters, but what you do with it that does. 120 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Livestock increased her net income by more than three folds” Success story of Mrs Pankajakshi Amma, coconut-based livestock raising, Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India

A 56-year-old widow is proving that integrating milking cows and poultry in a coconut farm can be highly profitable. The widow is Mrs. Pankajakshi Amma of Kandanad House, Kalavamkodam, Vayalar in Kerala State. When her husband died in 1996, she was left with a 0.6-hectare coconut farm which usually gave her a meager annual gross income of US$ 364 or a net income of US$ 273. In one year as of April 2004, with 3 milking cows, 3 heifers, 2 bull calves and 90 chick- ens, she had grossed US$ 4633. After deducting her cost of production, she realized a net income of US$ 921 which is equivalent to 3.38 times that of what she used to make from coconuts. She expects to increase her income as soon as her poultry project becomes fully productive in a few months from the time of this report. When her husband died in 1996, Mrs. Amma was left with the farm and a seven-year- old son. She did not have any interest in agriculture at that time and only relied on the usual income from coconuts which was not enough to provide a comfortable lifestyle. Her interest in farming, particularly livestock raising, was aroused when IPGRI-CO- GENT chose Vayalar as one of the sites of its poverty reduction project in coconut based communities in 2002. After attending seminars provided free by the IPGRI-COGENT project through the Vayalar Community Development Center (VCDC), she decided to go into live- stock raising. She was one of only six members of VCDC who chose raising farm animals as a new source of income. Mrs. Amma started livestock raising in 2002 with just one cow. By early 2004, however, her stock had increased to 3 milking cows, 3 heifers, 2 bull calves and 90 chickens. Most part of the coconut holding is now planted to fodder crops. While she derives most of her cash income from the milk she produces, there are other hidden benefits from her farm animals. She has put up a biogas unit using her animal ma- nure to produce fuel for household use. With the biogas unit, she also produces organic fertilizer which is returned to improve the fertility of her farm. While she spends a lot for the purchase of feed for her animals, she expects to reduce her feed expenses by intensifying fodder production in her farm. She is also learning how to formulate her own feeds with locally available ingredients to cut down feed costs. Mrs. Amma is an active member of VCDC. Her achievement as a successful livestock and poultry farmer is a source of encouragement for many other members of the CBO. Some of them have already taken to livestock rearing as an integral component of the coconut- based farming system in Vayalar.

“Young housewife makes money from intercropping and processing high-value coconut products” Success story of Mrs Preethi Panicker, coconut-based intercropping and high-value products production, Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based High-Value Products Production’ award)

Mrs. Preethi Panicker, 36 years old, is not really the poorest of the poor in the poor coconut farming village of Vayalar in Kerala State, India. She lives with her aging mother and two children in a 0.24-hectare land planted to 25 aging coconuts. Unlike many families in her village, she has a husband engaged in a small business out- side the state. However, not even the monthly remittance from her husband and the small income from the coconuts, could make both ends meet. She has to spend for the household needs as well as the education of her two sons, one of them studying in a computer training institute in a distant place. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 121

The IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project implemented in her village by the Vayalar Community Development Center in 2002 has dramatically changed the economic life of Mrs. Panicker. After attending several trainings on various livelihood opportunities con- ducted by VCDC, she decided to go into intercropping with high-value crops as well as into processing of coconut-based products that are saleable in the community. These products with added value include vinegar, coconut water-based lemonade, coconut water wine, coconut kernel toffee, coconut oil-based soap, detergent, and kernel-based chutney powder. She started her intercropping project in April 2003, planting bananas, root and tuber crops and assorted vegetables, flowers and herbs. After one year of intercropping, she real- ized a cash income of US$ 471 and non-cash income of US$ 222. Her production expenses, including family labour of US$ 205, totaled US$ 280. That left her a net profit of US$ 413 in her first year. The increase in net income as a result of intercropping alone was over six times that of pre-project income. She also realized cash income of US$ 818 and non-cash income of US$ 38 from her coconut products processing venture. From both intercropping and production of high-value products, Mrs. Panicker was able to earn a net income of US$ 782 from a gross income of US$ 1549. That means a lot to a housewife like Mrs. Panicker in a poor coastal village like Vayalar. She expects to make much more in the coming years as she expands her operations with more capital at her disposal. Meanwhile, more women in the community are also getting interested in projects like those of Mrs. Panicker. They, too, would like to make more money like her. And the admi- rable thing is that Mrs. Panicker is teaching them how to get into the same business.

CBO and coconut-based income-generating activity group success stories

“Timely interventions enable coconut farmers to cope with hard times” Success story of the Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

The depressed prices of coconuts in 2000-01 had hit hard the small palm growers in many parts of India, including those of Ariyankuppam Community in Pondicherry in the east coast of the country. The farmers who mostly depended on a monocrop of the low-yielding East Coast Tall variety had encountered difficulty making both ends meet. Thanks to the timely interven- tions introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project launched in Ariyankuppam starting November 2002, many of the farmers have been able to cope with the hard times. And what are these interventions? There are a number of them, implemented by the Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Farmers Association (ACCFA), the community-based organization (CBO) which has 320 members who come from 11 villages. First intervention is the conduct of free trainings on various possible income-generating projects that can be undertaken not only by the heads of the families but also the other members such as the women and children. Livestock and poultry raising. One of the doable projects initiated by the COGENT project was the production of farm animals that included broilers, layers, goats, dairy cattle, quails and even ostrich. The farmers don’t only derive income from the sale of their produce. They also derive much of their own family consumption from their production. Mixed cropping. Another strategy adopted by the COGENT project is the promotion of mixed cropping in between the coconut trees. These include the production of cash crops 122 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III such as bananas, papaya, various vegetables of the high-yielding kind, even fodder grasses which are all in demand in the community. Community nursery. One of the problems observed in Ariyankuppam is the low yield of the palm trees. This is because the variety mostly existing is the East Coast Tall which pro- duces very low yield and is susceptible to mites as well as to the stem bleeding disease. A major strategy that was taken was to first identify the high-yielding trees right in the community and get from them the seednuts for propagation. That has been done in three community nurseries put up by the CBO. These nurseries don’t only make available high quality planting materials. Operating them has proven to be highly profitable not only to the CBO but to the members who are managing them. High-value coconut-based products. Another way to counter the low prices of raw coconut is to process various parts of the coconut into products with added value. The CBO, through the assistance of government and nongovernment agencies, acquired machineries for making coconut chips, Snow Ball Tender Coconut, coconut fiber, virgin coconut oil and others. This has provided employment opportunities, especially to the women who mostly stay at home doing domestic work and who don’t have a regular source of income. Microcredit. One component that has made the IPGRI-COGENT project work is the adoption of the micro credit system whereby members who don’t have capital to pay for raw materials and other inputs in their chosen projects can borrow the needed amount. Transaction is businesslike. The borrower pays interest for his loan, which is one way of making the lending sustainable. It also inculcates the virtue of operating in an honest-to- goodness businesslike environment. In other words, the “dole out” mentality is avoided. That makes the borrowers more responsible of their obligations. The long term impact of the IPGRI-COGENT project may be too early to assess. Never- theless, the CBO has created social consciousness in the minds of the coconut farmers of Ariyankuppam. Through this project, the farmers have learned to appreciate the value of various coconut cultivars cultivated by them. The concept of a community nursery was introduced to them for the first time. They have also learned to recognize the income-gener- ating possibilities offered by processing value-added coconut products. In short, ACCFA has given new hope to the poor coconut farmers of Ariyankuppam.

“Community nurseries give new hope for more productive palms” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

Farmers in the coconut growing community of Ariyankuppam in Pondicherry in the east coast of India are just like many other coconut growers in the country. They are mostly relying on the East Coast Tall variety which is not only low-yielding, it is also susceptible to pests and diseases. That was one of the setbacks in the community that was recognized when the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT was introduced in the locality in late 2002. Thus, one of the major interventions the project adopted was the setting up of community nurseries to propagate seednuts from elite palms selected from locally growing trees. Experts from the coconut research institute and from the Department of Agriculture conducted lectures and training, focusing on the importance of planting only seedlings from proven high-yielding trees. They also taught how to set up and manage a coconut seedling nursery. After the training, three members of the CBO volunteered to manage three community nurseries put up by ACCFA. In the first year, a total of 1800 seedlings were produced and sold to members as well as nonmembers in and outside the community. It was immediately profitable. Earnings through sales totaled Rs 18 250 (US$ 414.77) while the expenses on SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 123 seednuts and management charges totaled only RS 9250 (US$ 210.23). The viability of the project has encouraged ACCFA to increase production. In 2004- 2005, the CBO has scheduled the production of at least 3500 seedlings. That will ensure the availability of good quality planting materials to the community. That will also mean addi- tional income for the ACCFA and the members who are managing the nurseries. It is still too early to speculate on the final impact of the nurseries on the coconut indus- try in Ariyankuppam. It is safe to say, however, that there’s new hope for a new generation of high-yielding palm trees in the community just several years from now.

“Value-adding is the answer to erratic coconut prices” Success story of the coconut-based high-value products production group, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

Coconut farmers can not solely depend on the sale of unprocessed nuts because prices are erratic. There are times when prices are high and there are also times when prices are very low for one reason or another. Just like what the coconut farmers in Ariyankuppam in Pondicherry, in the east coast of India, experienced in 2001-02. That time, prices went down and the farmers suffered great economic losses. Still, the farmers felt lucky because soon after, the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT was launched in their community. Among others interventions, the poverty reduction project introduced value-adding to coconut products as a means to counter the effects of the low prices of raw nuts. These included the production of coconut chips and what is now known as Snow Ball Tender Nut. Thirty members of the CBO organized themselves into a group to commercially produce and market chips and Snow Ball Tender Nut. With the help of the site coordinator, Dr. S.J.D. Bosco, senior scientist, Post Harvest Technology, the members were able to acquire the required equipment and made arrangements for other logistics needed in value-adding. In addition, the members of the group, headed by R. Ezhilraja, have also ventured into the production and sale of coir fibers and plates made of coconut leaves. A few of the farm- ers have turned to vermicomposting and mushroom growing. At the time of this report, the group was also about to launch their project of producing and marketing virgin coconut oil. The machineries provided to ACCFA members for the production and sale of coconut chips and Snow Ball Tender Nut are now producing profits for the members.This activity has created a strong awareness and confidence among the CBO members for the produc- tion and marketing of high-value coconut products. Within a very short period, the ACCFA has realized additional income totaling Rs 6699 (US$ 152.25) to add to its coffers which could be used for additional micro lending. More important, the farmers have derived addi- tional income for themselves. Some members of the CBO have also received equipment for coco coir manufacturing from ACCFA, and on the average they are earning an additional income of Rs 5000 to 6000 (US$ 113.64 to US$ 136.36) a year, depending on the level of production and demand in the market. For those engaged in oyster mushroom production, vermicomposting, coir pith composting and leaf plates making, the net income widely varies from Rs 1000 to 20 000 (US$ 22.73 to US$ 455) per year, depending on the level of investment and scale of operation.

“Intercropping is the saving grace in times of low coconut prices” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Ariyankuppam Coconut Community Farmers’ Association, Ariyankuppam, India

Coconut farmers can substantially increase their incomes from their farms through inter- cropping of various crops. These could be fodder crops, various kinds of vegetables, root 124 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III crops and some others. In the coconut farming community of Ariyankuppam in Pondicherry in the east coast of India, intercropping has been the saving grace after prices of coconuts drastically went down in the crop year 2000-01. The intercropping technology was introduced to the farmers through the income reduc- tion project of the IPGRI-COGENT launched in late 2002. Under the project, the Ariyankuppam Commune Coconut Farmers Association (ACCFA) was organized to imple- ment the project, introducing practical interventions to improve the economic status of the farm families. There are many profitable intercrops the farmers could plant in their farms. After all, the soil in most farms is fairly rich and there is ample supply of water to meet the requirements of the various intercrops. For a start twelve members of the ACCFA formed a group to engage in intercropping. They purchased seed materials of high-yielding varieties from the CBO as well as from the State Department of Agriculture at subsidized prices. (That’s one advantage of group farm- ing; they can buy their inputs at lower prices). To equip them with the necessary technology, they attended free lectures and seminars on intercropping conducted by experts from the Department of Agriculture and elsewhere. Through intercropping of various crops, the members of the group were able to realize an average additional net return of Rs 10 000 (US$ 227.27) per acre. The additional net return ranged from Rs 4000 (US$ 91) in the case of coconut plus ragi, to Rs 30 500 (US$ 693.18) in the case of coconut plus fodder grass. The other profitable intercrops include banana which gives an additional net return of Rs 10 000 (US$ 227.27) per acre per year; bitter gourd at Rs 6500 (US$ 147.73) per acre; bhendi at Rs 7000 (US$ 159.10); tapioca at Rs 6000 (US$ 136.36); rice at Rs 5000 (US$ 113.64); snake gourd at Rs 5000 (US$ 113.64); and ground nut and ragi at Rs 4000 (US$ 91). The cash income is just one of the benefits from intercropping. Equally important is the self-confidence it has provided the farmers, enabling them to expand their activities, includ- ing other money-making projects. As a result, the members have become confident enough to seek additional capital out- side the CBO to finance their projects. The group members, for instance, had sought the help of financial institutions such as cooperative banks and commercial banks for additional loans. Overall, the poverty reduction project has transformed Ariyankuppam into a more eco- nomically vibrant community. Thanks to the various interventions introduced, including intercropping.

“Poor coconut growing community benefits from IPGRI-COGENT project” Success story of the Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikkara, India

Pallikkara is just one of several communities in India that’s benefiting from the poverty reduction project launched by IPGRI-COGENT in 2002. This is a community in Kerala State, India, predominated by small and marginal farmers who live mostly below the poverty line. It consists of about 500 coconut growers from se- lected localities. Production is low because most of the trees are of the low-yielding West Coast Tall variety which is also susceptible to pests and diseases. To achieve the objective of reducing poverty among coconut farmers, IPGRI-COGENT helped set up the Pallikkara Community Coconut Development Center (PCCDC) to imple- ment the program. Three strategies were adopted, namely the cultivation of high-yielding varieties; adoption of mixed cropping and livestock production; and production and mar- keting of high-value coconut products. In less than three years of implementation, the program has produced concrete results. A total of 14 Self-Help Groups consisting of 10 to 20 women per group were formed to produce and market one or more high-value coconut products. The necessary inputs and SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 125 machineries were procured with CBO seed money and are leased to the self-help group members. As a result several money-making projects have been launched. These include produc- tion of better quality copra, coconut chips, Snow Ball Tender Nuts, coconut candies, oyster mushrooms, and vermicomposting. Intercropping is one of the most promising interventions introduced by the IPGRI-CO- GENT project. Turmeric, pineapple, banana and vegetables were introduced to many farm families who didn’t grow them before. Free trainings were conducted and planting materi- als were procured from the Kerala Agricultural University as well as from private suppliers. Farmers who don’t have the cash borrowed money from the micro credit system operated by the CBO to buy their supplies. Crops that are meant more for food security were also introduced. These include cas- sava, colocasia and yam. Banana, patchouli and black pepper were planted as intercrops in coconut gardens immediately after the onset of the southwest monsoon, from which farm- ers would be able to get attractive returns over a period of one to five years. Fodder and pasture crops have also been introduced to meet the feed requirements of livestock raised by the farmers. These include Guinea grass and Napier. The IPGRI-COGENT project has also introduced the Gramalakshmi breed of poultry. This is particularly suitable for backyard raising. It produces 200 to 250 eggs a year and is resistant to pests and diseases. Another significant achievement of the project so far is the identification and character- ization of existing coconut varieties in the community. A total of five distinct types of coco- nut were identified and evaluated in addition to the West Coast Tall. Three of them have been identified for mass propagation because of their high yields. These are the Pallikkara Ordinary Tall, Koottakkani Round Tall and Alakode Tall. Four nurseries have been established to propagate the selected varieties. Distribution of seedlings started in June 2004 and each CBO member is encouraged to plant at least five seedlings from the community-managed nurseries. Eventually, more seedlings will be pro- duced to supply the needs of the farm families. For the effective implementation of various interventions under the project, linkages have been established with different agencies. These include the state department of agriculture, the state government-sponsored poverty alleviation project (Kudumbasree project), service cooperative banks, Panchayat Raj institutions, state department of animal husbandry, state dairy development department, non-government organizations, Kerala Agricultural Uni- versity and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. As initial impact, the project has created awareness among the coconut farmers of Pallikkara about the many income-generating activities that can be undertaken by them. The farmers have also become aware of the importance of conserving coconut diversity for future farm productivity. Members of the community have also been exposed to the improved methods of farming to enhance incomes from their coconut farms, like crop intensification. Above all, the active involvement of members of Women’s Self-Help Groups in interventions related to produc- tion and marketing of high-value coconut products is a positive outcome of the implementa- tion of the project. Effective functional linkages established among various agencies for the successful imple- mentation of coconut-based interventions are deemed highly beneficial to sustain the activi- ties in the future.

“Microcredit helps empower disadvantaged women” Success story of the microcredit and revolving fund system of the Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikkara, India

One effective intervention that the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT has intro- 126 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III duced in the poor coconut growing communities is the adoption of a micro credit system. In the coconut growing community of Pallikkara in Kerala State, India, this has worked particularly well in helping disadvantaged women to acquire skills and come up with their money-making projects. As soon as the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched in Pallikkara in 2002, it provided the implementing CBO (community-based organization), an initial fund of Rs 75 000 (US$ 1704.55) as seed money to be used as revolving fund. An amount of Rs 23 600 (US$ 536.36) representing admission fees of members was also added. Subsequently, with the increased activities of the CBO, the Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, a sum of Rs 87 500 (US$ 1988.64) was added to the seed money. With the availability of more funds, the CBO has been able to help the members, espe- cially the women who mostly stayed home and did not have a regular source of income. Part of the funds have been used to conduct training members for free in various income- generating skills. Another portion has been used to provide easy credit to members who don’t have their own capital. Many of the members organized themselves into 14 self-help groups to make it easier for them to borrow money from the CBO. Each self-help group consists of 10 to 20 women members. As of the middle of 2004, a total of 219 members have availed themselves of micro credit amounting to Rs 33 643 (US$ 764.61) for their income-generating projects. As mixed cropping was identified as one of the most profitable projects, much of the credit has been for the purchase of planting materials of cash crops such as pepper, banana, colocasia, cowpea, yam, fodder grass, turmeric, pineapple, patchouli, various vegetables, root crops and an improved breed of poultry. Some of the borrowed money was also invested in vermicomposting, coconut chips pro- cessing and for the establishment of community nurseries. The vermiculture projects pro- duce organic fertilizer used in enriching the farms. The community nurseries, on the other hand, propagate recommended high-yielding varieties for members to plant in their farms. The CBO officers as well as selected members have been trained in running the micro credit system to make sure that the loans are paid as soon as they are due. So far, repayment has been satisfactory.

“Goodbye Beedi, hello Burfy!” Success story of the high-value coconut-based products group, Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikkara, India

Five sari-clad women were among the one hundred participants who attended the Enterpreneurship Development Programme on Value Addition in Coconut organized by the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) at Pallikkara village, Kasaragod. These women were later to form a group that will start the production of high value prod- ucts from coconut in their community. They were eager to learn the different skills and knowledge imparted through the various training modules. They were aware that the job opportunities for women are on the decline and this situation is further aggravated by low wages and the heavy nature of work available in the quarrying and construction business. On the other hand, on-farm activities available for women are confined to transporting and applying manure and fertilizers, copra drying, transporting of harvested nuts, and taking care and milking of cattle. However, they strongly believe that women can do more to aug- ment the family income and that they have the time and the ability to be involved in produc- tive economic activities. The mindset of these women matched the plan of the IPGRI-COGENT project to tap an important segment of the coconut community—the women folk. An action plan for women was formulated under the project with emphasis on the preparation of coconut-based high value products particularly coconut chips and coconut burfy. It was, therefore, not difficult for these women to be convinced to venture into produc- SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 127 tion of coco chips and burfy. These enthusiastic ladies named Rejitha, CV, Sujaya M, Sreemathi C, Sarojini V, and Vellachi V elected from among themselves a president and a secretary. They procured a coconut chips dryer worth Rs 45 000 (US$ 1032) through the CBO’s credit in-kind arrangement. They have to repay its cost in small installments from the profits. Other necessary equipment such as slicers, knives, tumblers, blotting paper, packag- ing materials and sealing machines were also provided by the CBO on loan basis. In addi- tion to the ‘in-kind’ credit, they also availed of microcredit loans worth Rs 2000 (US$ 45.90) from the CBO. Things were going great for this group because they also obtained a subsidy of Rs 12 000 (US$ 275.20) from the Krishibhavan, the local office of the State Department of Agriculture while the Kudumbasree project, a government-sponsored poverty alleviation initiative provided marketing assistance by sponsoring their participation in fairs and exhi- bitions—the latest of which was held in New Delhi. Thus far, the shops in the nearby supermarkets were contacted for the sale of chips and burfy. The optimism of the group is high such that they are already planning to produce more chips and burfy in anticipation of high demand during the ‘Onam Festival Season’. They are now learning to keep tract of opportunities to further increase their sales and income. All of them were previously involved in beedi rolling which did not provide sufficient income and steady employment. With their involvement in the IPGRI/COGENT project on “Developing sustainable coconut-based income generating technologies in poor rural com- munities in India”, these five women not only sharpened their ‘business-sense’ but more importantly, they have contributed significantly to the enhancement of family income and standard of living and to the improvement of the status of women in rural communities.

“Intercropping empowers a group of 19 women” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Centre, Pallikkara, India

Women in coconut growing communities who have no regular source of income might as well try to learn intercropping. It could open new opportunities to earn some income as well as to produce food for their household needs. Just like what a group of 19 women has done in the coconut farming village of Pallikara in Pallippuzha district in Kerala, India. The women are members of a self-help group called Sree Durga Kudumbasree. After attending trainings conducted by the Pallikkara Coconut Community Development Center (PCCDC), they decided to engage in intercropping in their families’ small coconut holdings. The PCCDC is the community-based organization (CBO) which is implementing the poverty reduction project in coconut growing communities launched by IPGRI-COGENT in 2002. The CBO conducts free trainings on various livelihood activities for its members and also provides micro credit to those who are too poor and who can’t borrow from traditional lending institutions. The members of the group consist of 10 housewives, six agricultural laborers and three are engaged in tailoring with monthly incomes ranging from Rs 250 to 500 (US$ 5.68 to US$ 11.36). For a start, after undergoing training conducted by the PCCDC, they planted vegetables like cowpea, ladies finger, chili, bitter gourd and cassava. They availed themselves of microcredit from PCCDC to buy their planting materials. Cassava was planted in 500 square meters and yielded 500 kilos. As of this writing, 350 kilos were sold at Rs 5 (US$ 0.11) a kilo while 150 kilos were used for home consumption. They planted chili on 200 square meters and harvested 30 kilos, 25 kilos of which were sold for Rs 250 (US$ 5.68) while the rest were used for home consumption. From cowpea, they harvested 45 kilos, sold 15 kilos at Rs 10 (US$ 0.22) a kilo and used 30 kilos for home consumption; a net income of Rs 225 (US$ 5.11) from Bindhi plus 25 kilos 128 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III for home use; Rs 275 (US$ 6.25) from bitter gourd plus 20 kilos for home consumption. The figures may not be very impressive. But then this is just the beginning. They could produce more intercrops with increasing experience and self-confidence. What is important is that they have started to become more enterprising. Another notable impact is that the group activities have added to the empowerment of the women members through the interaction and learning in the group environment, apart from the economic empowerment.

“Doable interventions bring economic life to a community” Success story of the Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India (Winner of the ‘Best Global Project Community’ and the country-level ‘Best Project Community’ awards)

Improved technologies, affordable credit and other practical interventions can transform a stagnating farming community into a vibrant one. This has been the case in Vayalar, a poor coconut farming community in the district of Alappuzha in Kerala State, India. It all started in 2002 when IPGRI-COGENT decided to implement its poverty reduction project in Vayalar. In just a matter of less than three years, so much has been achieved to improve the incomes of the coconut farming families. Vayalar is a coastal village where some 4000 families live, almost half of which depend largely on coconut farming as their source of income. The coconut farmers have an average holding of less than one hectare so their incomes are below the poverty line. Around 40 percent of total farm households depend exclusively on coconut farming and coir spinning for their livelihood. Annual income of about 1000 families used to be below Rs 27 000 or US$ 600. The economic situation in Vayalar has dramatically changed, however, after the imple- mentation of practical interventions by the poverty reduction project. In less than three years, many of the households have increased their incomes 3 to 4 times, or even more. For instance, intercropping of high-value crops which is one of the interventions intro- duced by the project has provided substantial additional income to 82 members of the Vayalar Community Development Center, the community-based organization (CBO) implementing the poverty reduction project. During one year ending December 2003, the net income they derived from intercropping averaged Rs 4030 or US$ 90. That’s equivalent to Rs 14 926 or US$ 332 per hectare. The income has the potential of increasing as the farmers become even more proficient. The farm families who chose to raise farm animals have also derived substantial addi- tional income. The case studies on 6 livestock rearing units revealed a range in net income of US$ 341 to US$ 1963. The poverty reduction project has also provided excellent income opportunities in the production of high-value products. For example, a group of seven women engaged in the production and sale of coconut-based foods and beverages made a net income of Rs 15 500 per member, or US$ 344 in a period of 10 months ending December 2003. The economic benefits derived by a big number of individuals engaged in coir processing has yet to be quantified. The most striking benefit, however, is the continuity in employment for about 760 individuals, 570 of them women, in 190 processing units. The estimated finan- cial benefit is an average annual income of Rs 60 000 or US$ 1333 per unit with a work force of three women and one man. How did all these economic benefits come about? When the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project was introduced in the village, the Vayalar Community Development Center was organized as the CBO to implement the project. Seed money was provided by the COGENT and additional funds were generated through the membership fee of Rs 105 or US$ 2.39 per member. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 129

The CBO conducted and continues to conduct free trainings for the members on such money-making activities as production of high value products, intercropping and livestock raising, nursery operation, and implementing a microcredit system. The availability of microcredit has been most instrumental in enabling the poor members to pursue income-generating activities. One effective strategy has been to form the members into groups so they can work to- gether as an economic team. In the case of one intercropping group, for instance, seven men and a woman consolidated their 1.6 hectares of contiguous holdings so they can undertake intercropping as one unit. The result has resulted in a profitable operation.. As a group, they could buy their planting materials and other inputs under better terms. As a group, they could produce a more commercial volume which they can market at a better price. As a group, they could also avail themselves of bigger credit from the CBO if they need additional capital. As of February 2004, the microcredit scheme has disbursed Rs 415 980 (US$ 9244) to 54 individuals and 29 working groups with a membership of 150 in the farming system, 190 coir spinning units with 760 workers, and 10 members of a cooperative society. The activities of VCDC have been strengthened in production as well as in marketing. Techno-economic support was extended mainly for creating basic infrastructure. In the pro- duction side, the activities covered include production of quality copra using indirect dryers, and high-value products such as vinegar from coconut water, kernel-based products, tim- ber and shell-based products, and others. VCDC has so far organized three women’s groups for producing and marketing value-added products from coconut kernel and water, two registered farmers’ societies for copra processing, and one sales outlet for the diverse prod- ucts produced by the women’s groups. Under the aegis of the farmers’ societies and one of the women’s groups, six indirect copra dryers have been established with the financial support of VCDC for processing about 6500 coconuts at a time. Steps are also on the way to link this with a virgin coconut oil production unit and one husk-processing unit. Presently, the copra produced is crushed in private mills and the oil marketed in consumer packing. For husk processing, VCDC plans to establish one environment-friendly fiber extraction unit for producing adequate quantity of fiber to satisfy the local demand for raw material. Steps have been initiated to mobilize funds internally to supplement project funds. The poverty reduction project has also been instrumental in developing coconut diver- sity in the village. Three cultivars identified by the community for their desirable traits are being multiplied in village nurseries for sale to interested members. Also being multiplied are dwarf varieties which are not only suitable for copra production but also for the production of tender coconuts. On the whole, the IPGRI-COGENT project has had a striking impact on the outlook of the local people. They have become conscious of the hidden potential of the community and the possibility of harnessing the same for their own welfare by availing themselves of the opportunities offered by the ADB-funded project.

“Microcredit creates more income opportunities, especially for women” Success story of the microcredit and revolving fund system of the Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India

It takes money to create more money. That is true even in the smallest money-making enter- prise. Like in coconut fibre production and other small farm projects, for instance. In the coastal village of Vayalar, Allappuzha district in Kerala State, microcredit has helped generate employment for about 1,036 workers of which more than 75% are women. Vayalar is a coconut farming community where the poverty reduction project of IPGRI- COGENT has been implemented by a community-based organization (CBO), the Vayalar 130 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Community Development Centre (VCDC). From the time the project started in early 2002, VCDC introduced a microcredit system to provide easy credit for the community members. The easy credit was designed to strengthen the income-generating activities they were already engaged in as well as to open new sources of income. By August 2004, the CBO had disbursed a total of US$ 11 683 which has greatly helped in generating on-farm income and employment in the community. A total of US$ 8247 was lent out for production and marketing of processed coconut products such as coconut fiber and handicrafts fashioned from various parts of the coconut. Smaller amounts were lent out for intercropping high-value crops, and for putting up nurseries in pursuit of coconut diver- sity. The amount lent through the microcredit system came from the membership fees of US$ 2.39 each for a total of US$ 1778, and US$ 9160 from the fund provided by IPGRI-COGENT. The microcredit has had its greatest impact on the production and marketing of value- added products. The coir processing sector had generated employment for more than a thousand workers. The 240 members of the CBO who had availed themselves of microcredit had generated in 12 months a total net income of US$ 65 860 or an average of US$ 274.40 per head per year. Microcredit has also helped the farm families increase their incomes through intercrop- ping of high-value vegetables. The 52 families who availed themselves of easy credit found vegetable production profitable. Intercropping provided 40% of the total income of the farm families. This was the income from marketable surplus after satisfying the household dietary needs. Thus, apart from cash income, intercropping contributed to household food security and improved nutrition for the families involved. Not all the intercroppers borrowed money from the CBO. A total of 82 land holdings (average size is 2700 sq m or 2.7 hectares) intercropped vegetables. In one year, the 82 hold- ings generated a net income of US$ 14 663 or an average of US$ 179 per holding. This level of income corresponds to US$ 663 per hectare per year. Microcredit also has had an impact in the promotion of varietal diversity. It has helped the CBO members to put up nine nurseries producing recommended varieties for sale to interested planters. The poverty reduction project was not an instant hit with the coconut-based farming community. During the early phase, particularly the first nine months of the project, there was apathy among the farm families towards farming because of low on-farm income from coconuts. However, by adopting effective extension education and services in the forms of training and on-farm demonstrations, it was possible to motivate the farmers to adopt inten- sive intercropping and livestock rearing, eventually achieving three to four times higher income than what they were previously getting.

“Dwarf varieties offer new income opportunities” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India

Coconut farmers in the coastal village of Vayalar in the Allapuzha district, Kerala State, can look forward to a new source of income, thanks to new coconut varieties introduced in the area through the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT. The coconut farmers, for instance, are looking forward to earn more income from the sale of tender coconuts harvested from the dwarf varieties that have been planted under the aging trees of the tall variety that are not only low-yielding, they are also susceptible to pests and diseases. Selling tender coconuts can be profitable. The young coconut fruits are saleable and they are harvested within a much shorter time than those allowed to mature for the production of copra and other products. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 131

In the last three years, through the initiative of the Vayalar Community Development Centre (VCDC), some 7000 seedlings were distributed to members of the community, in- cluding 2000 produced by nine community nurseries. The nurseries were set up under the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project to provide the planting materials needed in the community. The dwarf varieties include the Chowghat Green Dwarf, Chowghat Orange Dwarf, Malayan Green Dwarf and Malayan Orange Dwarf. At the same time, the nurseries are propagating the Elite Tall, a selection of the locally popular tall variety. The Elite Tall is high- yielding and is for the production of mature nuts for their kernel as well as their husk for fiber production. In just a few years, the dwarf varieties will start bearing fruit. Being dwarf, the tender nuts are easy to harvest. With adequate fertilization, the trees can be productive throughout the year. Hence, the income of the planters can also be year-round. Vayalar is considered a poor farming community where 925 hectares of the 1295 hect- ares of cropped area are planted to coconuts. There are about 4000 households with land- holdings of less than a hectare each. Because the coconut trees that were grown the past many years was the ordinary west coast tall, the farm families have been having a hard time earning enough money for their basic needs. About 40 percent of the total farm households depend exclusively on coconut farming and coir spinning as their source of livelihood. The per capita income of about 40 percent of the population is below US$ 425. The village, however, is blessed with sandy loam soil and a rainfall of 3500 mm a year. Also, the village has the advantage of well-connected roads, and education and health care facilities are available. The CBO has a present membership of 850 who have paid a membership fee of US$ 2.39 each. The nurseries which continue to produce superior planting materials are undertaken by farmers’ groups headed by five women and three male leaders. The women leaders include Ms. Sindhu Vavakkad, Ms. Omana Banerji, Ms. Padnakumari, Ms. Preethi Panicker and Ms. Pankajakshi Amma. The male leaders are P.N. Natarajan, K.V. Ravindran and Ullas. So far, 484 members of the community have planted the dwarf as well as the Elite Tall varieties. Many more are expected to follow suit as more planting materials are available and more villagers recognize the advantages of planting the recommended varieties.

“Seven poor women group themselves for self-help” Success story of the coconut-based high-value products production group , Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India

Even poor, disadvantaged women can succeed as entrepreneurs if given the right motiva- tion and training in their chosen field of livelihood. Just like the seven women who are members of the Vayalar Community Development Center (VCDC) in a coastal coconut growing village in Kerala State, India. VCDC is the community-based organization (CBO) formed to implement the poverty reduction project of COGENT in the village of Vayalar. In July 2003, the women formed the Thrikkarthika Women’s Processing Group to pro- duce eight different food items that are salable in the community. The group includes Mrs. Seetha Lekshmy as group leader, counting as members Mrs. Pankajakshi Amma, Mrs. Geetha Radhakrishnan, Mrs Preethi Panicker, Mrs. Sandhya Unni, Mrs. Latha and Mrs Indira. All the members of the group are involved in the processing of coconut, rice, wheat and cassava. The food products include kernel-based chutney powder, kernel and rice-based confections, home-made coconut oil, and coconut milk-based preparations possessing char- acteristic taste and flavor. The women in the group belong to the deprived section of the local society and were confined to household chores without any opportunity to contribute to family income. 132 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

They could not be employed either in public or private offices because they lack the necessary education and skills. They come from farm families who derive income from coco- nut but with the average size of holdings being as small as 0.2 hectare, the families have very meager incomes.. New income generating opportunities were opened to them when the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT chose Vayalar as one of its sites. This was possible through a series of training courses and the provision of microcredit. The group started functioning in a modest way but over the 10 months ending 30 April 2004, the group was able to generate a gross income of Rs 80 964 (US$ 1840). That gave them a net income of Rs 21 721 (US$ 494). That may be modest but the members are proud of their achievement. They have become very confident, immediately thinking of expanding their activities by adopting improved production technologies and introducing new prod- ucts with wide consumer acceptance. There are still constraints ahead such as more credit needed to acquire more equipment. They also need the services of a food technologist to help them obtain a license to produce and market some products which enjoy a big market demand. With their present enthusiasm and confidence, however, the members believe they can secure institutional financing for the purchase of essential equipment. They are also confi- dent, they will be able to avail themselves of the services of a food technologist to satisfy the registration requirements for a modern food processing unit. The members expect that within another year, adequate surplus funds could be generated to take care of this need.

“Group intercropping ups farm income more than three times” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group , Vayalar Community Development Centre, Vayalar, India

Intercropping various cash crops in coconut farms can substantially increase incomes of farmers. In the case of eight farmers in the coconut farming community of Vayalar in India, for instance, intercropping alone enabled the farmers to produce crops worth US$ 3354 in one year which is 3.3 times the gross income from coconuts in a 1.6-hectare area. Coconuts yielded only US$ 1000 in one year in the same area. The eight farmers, seven males and one woman, belong to the Vayalar Community De- velopment Center which is the community-based organization implementing the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT in coconut farming communities. In 2003, the eight farmers led by V.K. Sukuaran decided to form Neelima Self-Help Group so they can practice intensive intercropping in a pooled contiguous land with a total area of 1.6 hectares. After undergoing training on intercropping under the auspices of the IPGRI- COGENT poverty reduction project, they recognized the advantages of group farming. As a group, they can produce more substantial quantities of certain products which they can market on a commercial basis. A bigger volume of one product, for instance, would be more attractive to regular buyers. The growers who market their produce jointly could ob- tain a price that is more favorable to them. As a group, they can procure the planting materials and other inputs at more favorable terms. Although the members work individually in their own holdings, they also contribute their labor whenever needed in the other holdings. Banana has proven to be the best money-maker among the various intercrops. In one year, banana yielded 4500 kilos that were sold for US$ 1534. The other intercrops consisted 2500 kilos of root and tuber crops worth US$ 682; various vegetables worth US$ 682; and flowers worth US$ 68. In addition to the cash sales, some 450 kilos of various products worth US$ 123 were consumed by the families while 250 kilos worth US$ 85 were given away. As of the end of the period covered by this report, the farmers also had unsold prod- ucts worth US$ 341. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 133

Before the pooling of resources by the group, the families occasionally grew banana, papaya, root and tuber crops such as elephant foot yam, colocasia and others. However, these crops were mostly grown for home consumption. Intercropping has not only provided new income for the farm owners. It has harnessed farm labor which would otherwise be idle. Before intercropping was introduced, practically all the adult members of the families involved were idle for lack of other activities than coconut farming. With intercropping, a total of 300 person-days of additional employment were created. The success achieved by the Neelima Self-Help Group in intercropping has attracted the attention of many farmers in the community. This is evidenced by the frequent visit to the farming site to acquaint themselves with the farming system and practices followed by the group. This has led to the formation of similar groups in the community for the joint cultiva- tion of banana and other profitable crops. As of the time of this report, three such groups have followed suit in Vayalar. Many more are expected to do the same. 134 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Sri Lanka success stories

Ajith Samarajeewa Project Leader, Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL), Lunuwila, Sri Lanka

Individual farmer success stories

“Disadvantaged no more” Success story of Mr KA George, livestock production and management, Women’s Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based Livestock Production’ award)

KA George of Wilpotha, Chilaw, Puttalam, Sri Lanka is a polio victim and his wife, CDM Wimalawathie, has a rheumatic heart. Their physical conditions prove to be frustrating as they cannot find paid work even as labourers. The couple, though, is blessed with three children, who could only attend school occassionally because of their poverty. Their main source of livelihood was the nuts from few coconut trees in the small lands George inherited from his parents. Out of frustration and depression for not being able to support his family’s basic needs, George turned to alcohol. In 2002, the family heard of the Womens Savings Effort and the IPGRI- COGENT’s poverty reduction initiatives this community-based organization (CBO) is implementing. The couple decided that Winalawathie joins the CBO first, with George following suit. Wimalawathie and her daughter attended the project’s train- ing on livestock production and in the same year, eventually got a loan in-kind from the CBO in the form of 13 hens and two roost- ers. In few months, the chicken started lay- ing eggs which they sell in their neighbor- hood, earning them SLR 100 (US$1) a day Before and after. (Top) KA George and his family in front of their on the average. Part of it is saved which old thatch house. (Bottom) The new brick house that KA George has started to build from his livestock earnings George used to buy more chickens. Wimalawathie applied for another loan from the CBO to construct a small shed for their growing number of chickens. Presently, the family has 70 healthy heads of chickens giving them eggs for nutrition and additonal income. George continuously sets asides a number of eggs for hatching to increase his family’s flocks. Busy with raising chicken, George finally turned away from alcohol and with the help of the CBO, he participated in a training on coconut-based intercropping. Consequently, the CBO provided him planting materials and production inputs on loan basis for his intercrop- ping venture. He now earns an average of SLR 3,500 (US$35) per month from his inter- crops. His wife, on the otherhand, has also attended training on high-value coconut-based product processing and eventually learned how to make bags from coconut bracts, giving the household additional income. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 135

Their children are now attending school regularly and the couple has opened a savings account with the CBO for their children. George has also started building a new home for his loved ones from his savings and loans from the CBO.

“Backyard cattle raising gives new hope to poor housewife” Success story of Mrs Uyanage Nilamani, livestock production and management, Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

Just a single cow loaned to a struggling housewife has given new hope for a better future for her family in the poor fishing village of Dodanduwa in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. The housewife is 35-year-old Uyanage Nilamani who has six children aged 4 to 16, and whose husband is engaged irregularly in fishing six months of the year. The family is really poor. They live in an unfinished house that’s barely enough to accommodate the eight mem- bers of the family who sleep on mats on the floor. Aside from the little income that they received from fishing, Nilamani made some money in coco coir spinning, she herself doing the backbreaking chore of pounding the husk to recover the fibers. When the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched in her village in 2002, she joined the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective which was chosen to implement the poverty reduction project. Her main objective was to be able to earn more from yarn spinning using coir sup- plied by the organization. That way, she would no longer have to do the tedious pounding of the coconut husk to recover the fibers for making yarn. Her joining the DWC and spinning yarn from fibers obtained from it had somewhat improved the family’s income. With her eldest daughter helping in spinning after classes, they soon earned SLR 100 (US$ 1) a day from yarn spinning. The income, however, is still not enough to meet even just their basic needs. So she looked for an additional source of income which she could undertake together with her yarn spinning. That additional source is cattle raising. The IPGRI-COGENT project loaned her a female cattle which gave birth to a calf 10 months later. Now, the cow is producing about 2.5 liters of milk a day. Part of it is consumed by the children at breakfast time while the rest is sold to other people. Her sale of milk averages SLR 125 (US$ 1.25) per day. Her earnings from milk has enabled Nilamani to buy some chairs for their home. More significant, however, is the fact that she recently bought another cow for SLR 5500 (US$ 55) with savings from her sale of milk. Another good news is that a politician who saw her success in cattle raising has promised to give her another cow under the government’s ani- mal dispersal program. To meet the feed requirements of her increasing herd, Nilamina has planted improved forage crops along the fence of their property. That helps relieve the children from the task of gathering grasses from other people’s property. Nilamani is very happy that her children are helping her in taking care of the animals which they have considered as pets. The livestock project which started with just one cow loaned from the CBO has proven to be the key to a brighter tomorrow for Nilamani’s family.

“From subsistence farmer to agricultural entrepreneur” Success story of Mr Lalith Rajapaksa, integrated coconut farming, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka (Winner of the ‘Best Global Coconut Farmer’ award)

By Sri Lankan standard, Lalith Rajapakse is not really a very very poor farmer. He owns a half-acre farm in the small village of Barampola in the Kurunegala district where coconut farming is the main source of income. Lalith’s coconuts, however, are still young so he has been growing traditional vegetables 136 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III between his coconut trees as his main source of income. These vegetables did not give him enough income, however, to enjoy a more or less comfortable lifestyle with his wife and three children, aged 3 to 11. In fact, they were recipients of welfare money from the govern- ment. A dramatic change in the life of Lalith and his family happened after Barampola was chosen as a site of IPGRI-COGENT’s poverty reduction project in coconut growing commu- nities. Lalith joined the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society (TEDS), the CBO implementing the project in his place. He had hoped to be a beneficiary of the project. And what a beneficiary he has become. His entrepreneurial ability was sparked by the training and ideas he had acquired from the IPGRI-COGENT project. EXOTIC VEGETABLES. After attending seminars on improved vegetable growing tech- niques given by experts hired by the project, Lalith decided to grow vegetables that were new to Barampola such as radish, cabbage, beetroot and several others. His initial planting was just a trial to find out if they are profitable to grow since these were never grown before in his remote village. Because he did not have the money to pay for the seeds, he got them as a loan from the CBO, payable after selling his harvest. The other members of his family were also enthusiastic in growing the new vegetables, providing help in any way they can. Eventually, they produced bountiful harvests to the amazement of their neighbors. Lalith was able to sell his produce at a much higher price than the traditional varieties. Traders were willing to pay a high price for his produce which he brought to trade fairs and the market. His income from vegetables increased five times. Not including the value of the veg- etables consumed at home, Lalith earned an average of SLR 8000 (US$ 80) per month from his vegetable project. Because of the success of his initial efforts, he expanded his production area by renting another half-acre from his neighbor for growing more vegetables. BRUSH-MAKING. Lalith’s pursuit for more income did not stop with exotic vegetables. With his increased income and his access to loans from the CBO, he thought of starting a new business in making Thwashi brush out of coconut fiber. For this, he rented a building at his brother’s place and got a loan for 10 tables for making Thwashi brushes. Then he hired 10 women trained by the CBO to work for him. Today, his new venture makes an average of 1000 brushes a day which are supplied to an exporter. That’s giving him a net income of around SLR 4000 (US$ 40) a month. What is also important is that he has created new employment for 10 women who are now earning SLR 120 to SLR 150 (US$ 1.20 to US$ 1.50) a day. GOAT PROJECT. Another new venture of Lalith is goat raising. It all started with a couple of female goats loaned to him through the CBO. Goats are ideal for him because the weeds and trimmings from his vegetable project are used as feed. The manure, on the other hand, is an excellent organic fertilizer for his vegetables. His goat project has given him two kids so far. He has also been milking his goats and whatever is not consumed by his family is sold to neighbors. His daily milk sales amount to just SLR 120 a day but he expects it to increase as his animals multiply. NURSERY PROJECT. Lalith has also recognized the money-making potential of oper- ating his own coconut seedling nursery. He is devoting part of his property in germinating seednuts of selected mother trees in the village. Initially, the CBO supplied him with 500 seednuts on a loan basis. He grew the seedlings and gave them back to the CBO for sale to other farmers. As compensation, he got 30 percent of the selling price. Currently, Lalith has restocked his nursery with seednuts that will be ready for planting in the next season. This early, he looks forward to a profitable nursery business. In addition, he has also started to plant the high-value Dikiri coconut, the equivalent of soft endosperm coconut called makapuno in the Philippines. Eventually, this will be another source of income for Lalith. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 137

Overall, Lalith is very thankful that IPGRI-COGENT selected his village as site of its poverty reduction project. Otherwise, he could have remained just a subsistence grower of traditional vegetables earning a very meager income.

“Making her mark as a home gardener” Success story of Ms Hemawathi, organic vegetable home gardening, Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

Success stories in different fields have been achieved by men and women involved in the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT in eight coconut-producing countries. Many of them are found in poor villages in Sri Lanka. One such success story is that of Hemawathi, 65-year-old woman from the small fishing village of Rathgama in southern Sri Lanka. In a way, she is more blessed than many of the other villagers. Her husband, now retired, was a minor employee in a private firm in the capital city. And although his salary was not enough to meet the basic needs of the family, she was resourceful enough to make supplemental income from yarn spinning. Then she went abroad to the Middle East to work as domestic helper for six years. This has enabled her to save some money with which to build a nice home and also to spend for the marriage of her four children. After returning from her stint in the Middle East, Hemawathi joined the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective and once again engaged in yarn spinning. As she became more familiar with the other money-making projects espoused by IPGRI-COGENT, she thought of engag- ing in home gardening. After all, they have a half-acre lot where she has been growing a few traditional vegetable varieties. She participated in the training on vegetable production conducted by the government’s Agricultural Training Institute in Labuduwa where she learned improved technologies in growing cash crops. After her training, she went headlong into home gardening. The IPGRI-COGENT project provided her some planting materials such as Cavendish banana and Red Lady papaya. She was also encouraged to grow exotic crops that were not yet grown in her village, includ- ing radish, beetroot, yams and many others. The project officials helped her select the differ- ent varieties suitable for growing in different parts of their land. It helps that she has a deep well which provides irrigation water for her plants. She applies organic fertilizers such as cow dung and other manures available in the area. She also learned integrated pest and disease management from the experts which helps her produce bountiful harvests without spending on chemical pesticides. At first, she just raised the vegetables for home consumption. With her excess produc- tion, however, she had to sell her produce not only to her neighbors but also in other towns. She soon realized that she could even make more money from vegetables than from yarn spinning. Aside from her income from yarn spinning, her vegetable project is giving her an addi- tional net income of SLR 1200 (US$ 120) per month. What she values more, however, are the fresh vegetables they consume at home as well as the healthful exercise and mental satisfaction she gets from growing her vegetables. Hemawathi does not keep all her income to herself. Being more blessed that most other women in her village, she does her own charitable work, helping the most needy women and their children. Her example as an enterprising 65-year-old is an inspiration to others to aspire for better things. If an elderly woman can do what she does, there should be no reason why others can’t do similarly. 138 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“New-found skill bailed her out of a pathetic existence” Success story of Ms. RK Mala, coconut fibre-based doormat-making, Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

Even with just a modest skill, one can improve one’s existence significantly. That’s what happened to RK Mala, a 36-year-old spinster living with her elderly mother in the poor fishing village of Dodanduwa in Southern Sri Lanka. Mala and her mother had led a very pathetic existence since they did not have a regular source of income. They used to live with a married sister but due to some misunderstanding, they had to leave the place without any home of their own to stay. They had to shift from one place to another without any shelter. Seeing their pathetic situation, a youth organiza- tion volunteered to build them a small house but it could not be completed for lack of funds. The house lacked roofing and all the mother and daughter had was a wooden bed where the two slept. The two women usually could have two meals a day. Eventually, they were able to enlist themselves as recipients of the government’s social welfare fund but the amount is so small, it was not even enough to pay for their basic needs. The big break came in 2002 when Dodanduwa was selected as one of the sites of IPGRI- COGENT’s poverty reduction project in coconut growing communities. Mala was selected as one those who trained on doormat making. Mala never had any experience in making doormats before. But she persisted to learn the skill and ended making doormats at the DWC center with inputs provided by the CBO. She now earns a daily income based on the number of doormats she can make each day. Mala has not really become very proficient in making doormats yet but she is now earn- ing SLR 1700 (US$ 17) per month. As she learns to make doormats faster, she could possibly make much more. What is important, however, is that she has found a source of regular income, thanks to the training provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project. From her modest earnings, she has had the roof of their little house installed and she has also bought some pieces of furniture. She and her mother now eat three square meals a day. That’s a big leap from a very pathetic existence. Thanks to the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project.

“Brooms against poverty” Success story of UD Ranjith Pathirana and BM Hemawathi, coconut-based coir and ekel brooms, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based High-Value Products Production’ award)

UD Ranjith Pathirana and his wife BM Hemawathi used to receive social welfare allowance from the government because they were so poor, they could not even earn SLR 100 a day from occasional paid unskilled work and from their small farm in the village of Dorawabila in Northern Sri Lanka. They lived in a half-finished small house that lacked even the most basic necessities such as a toilet, drinking water, furniture and electricity. Today, they don’t have to depend anymore on the government dole out. They now earn a daily income of SLR 400 (US$ 4) which is considered high in their community. What changed their lives in a big way was the launching of the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduc- tion project in their village in 2002. When the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched through the Thuttiripitigama Entre- preneurship Development Society or TEDS, Ranjith and his wife became members and re- ceived training on making coir brooms and ekel brooms. By December 2002, the couple started to make brooms manually as a part-time activity. Encouraged by the good reception of their products, the husband and wife got a loan in the form of equipment to enable them to produce more brooms with better quality. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 139

Soon the couple were making more brooms and Ranjith had to go outside of his community to explore additional markets. He also ob- served other products from coconut that they could make and sell. Realizing the potentials of the new market, the couple expanded their production and improved their quality. He applied for another loan in kind, this time an electric plainer to enable him to make higher qual- ity broomsticks. He also invested in a temporary building adjacent to his Broom power! Husband and wife team of UD Ranjith Pathirana and BM half-finished house for his expanded Hemawathi with their poverty-beating brooms operation. With his new equipment, he could now finish 50 brooms a day instead of just 10 pieces. In addition, he had started selling coir yarns in the market for making doormats. With his good sales, Ranjith was able to make a good profit and has now repaid his loan. In 2003, he made a net profit of SLR 36 000 (US$ 360). In 2004, he has been making a daily income of SLR 400 (US$ 4), or more than SLR 300 000 (US$ 3000) for the year. With his increased income Ranjith has put up a deep well in his property as source of drinking water. He has also put up sanitary facilities and is completing his unfinished house. He has also bought a radio and a TV set for his family. Moreover, he has given employment to five of his neighbors. He is also depending on 10 to 15 suppliers of raw materials for his products. Ranjith freely shares his expertise in making brooms. He has taught a number of his neighbors to make brooms. One time, he was also asked to teach the craft to women mem- bers of another village where the IPGRI-COGENT project is being implemented in the south- ern part of Sri Lanka.

“Hatching for a better tomorrow” Success story of Ms Swarnalatha Adikari, livestock (poultry) production, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka

Hatching chicks for sale can be a viable money-making project even in a poor coconut grow- ing village. That’s what a housewife named Swarnalatha Adikari has discovered in the rural village of Hanthihawa, Kurunegala district, in Northern Sri Lanka. Swarnilatha, a mother of four, is a member of Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Devel- opment Society (TEDS), the community-based organization implementing the poverty re- duction project of IPGRI-COGENT launched in her village in late 2002. The IPGRI-CO- GENT project aimed at increasing the incomes of the rural families by opening their eyes to various livelihood projects they can undertake right in their homes and farms. One of the recommended activities was backyard poultry raising. Different members chose different projects to undertake. In the case of Swarnilatha, she decided to go into poultry since she had been raising some native chickens in her home before. Unlike a number of others who will just raise chickens, however, she saw a different aspect that could give her a better return. She had observed that people in the community have a hard time getting good quality chicks to raise in their homes.It immediately came to her mind that producing chicks for sale could be a good business. And that’s exactly what she pursued. She availed herself of a microcredit from the CBO to acquire a small incubator worth SLR 68 000 (US$ 680). It was very timely because the IPGRI-COGENT project in collabora- 140 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III tion with the Veterinary Research Institute of Sri Lanka had just introduced to the commu- nity an improved indigenous breed which produced more eggs. The eggs produced by the poultry group were channeled to Swarnithala for hatching. She did not have any problem selling her day-old chicks because they were bought by the CBO for distribution to the members as loan in kind. From each chick sold, she made a net income of SLR 21.60 (US$ 0.216) She has been making a modest monthly net income of SLR 2340 (US$ 23.40) per month but this could increase significantly as her production expands. Her big problem has been getting enough eggs for hatching. Another is the frequent power failure in the village that could wreak havoc on the eggs being incubated. These problems did not discourage here, however. Instead, they served as challenges to be solved. So what did she do? She asked the CBO for another loan for the purchase of an electric generator that will take care of the power requirement of her incubator in case there is a brown out. Having shown her capability and her seriousness in pursuing her hatchery project, the CBO readily gave in to her request. And as to her problem regarding her supply of hatching eggs, the IPGRI-COGENT project supplied her 50 parent stocks of the improved breed from the Veterinary Research Institute. These parent stocks are now being crossed with indigenous chickens to produce chicks suit- able for raising as free-range chickens under the coconut trees. Swarnithala is looking forward to a sufficient supply of hatching eggs when her im- proved flock will start laying. She believes she will succeed in her project. After all, her chicks has a ready market under the micro financing program of the CBO. Now, with her income Swarnithala is looking forward to getting into other projects. She has started planting corn as initial step in producing her own feeds. She herself running her own commercial poultry farm producing not only chicks for sale but also table eggs in the near future. She has also bought an electric over for baking purposes, hoping to produce someday to produce confectioneries for sale in the nearby town. Also, she also plans to produce chicks of turkey and quails for sale to other members of the CBO. It seems there is no end to the expansion plans of Swarnithala, thanks to the ideas brought about by the IPGRI-COGENT project.

“Water is housewife’s key to intercropping success” Success story of Mrs Sandya Janaki, intercropping in a coconut-based farming system, Women’s Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

Raising vegetables and other cash crops was never popular in the remote coconut-growing village of Wilpotha in western Sri Lanka. That was because adequate water source has been a nagging problem in the community. Because of the frequent droughts the people did not care to grow any intercrop in their coconut fields. Some change came about, however, when the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty re- duction in coconut growing communities was launched in 2002 with the Wilpotha Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) as the implementing entity in the community. The COGENT project recommended several money-making activities in the village. One recommendation was the growing of vegetables and other cash crops between the coconut trees. Trainings on practical vegetable production were conducted for members of the CBO by agricultural experts. Improved varieties were also introduced. One member of the CBO who trained in intercropping was a 30-year-old housewife named Sandya Janaki. She comes from a poor family with a half acre farm lot planted to coconuts. While she stays at home with her two children, her husband is a mason who is often out of town in pursuit of his work. His pay, however, is not even enough to pay for the family’s basic necessities. Although Sandya would like to contribute to the family income, she could not think of any money-making activity that she could do right at home. She could not go out to look for work because she has to look after her children. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 141

Her participation in the training program on intercropping, however, has convinced her that raising vegetables could be done in her drought-prone village. She has been taught that for a start, she could grow the vegetables during the six rainy months in Wilpotha. She will have to grow the short-term crops that would be harvested before the rains are over. And that’s exactly what she did. The CBO provided her with the improved seeds, fertilizers and agro-chemicals as loan in kind payable after she sells her harvest. To her own surprise, with the use of the techniques she learned from the training, she was able to grow beautiful vegetables which sold like the proverbial hot cake in the weekly village market. The short-term crops that Sandya pro- duces during the rainy months include improved varieties of chilies, brinjals, lady’s fingers, mung beans and gourds. The big challenge for Sandya was to produce vegetables during the dry season. If she could do that, she would be making much more money because there would be few other suppliers. She could command a good price for her vegetables. She thought it was not impossible. What she did was to borrow SLR 5000 (US$ 50) from the CBO so she could build a deep well in her property. She was fortunate to have struck a good water source in their farm lot. With the new source of water for her vegetable garden, she could now produce vegetables throughout the year. Members of her family don’t have to travel far to fetch water for home use because the deep well also supplies them with potable water. In the last four months she was able to make a net income of SLR 4000 (US$ 40) from her vegetable project. That’s quite an additional amount to the wage that her mason husband earns from his work. What is equally important is that the members of the family enjoy all the fresh vegetables they need from their own garden. They don’t have to spend for them anymore. Sandya has learned practical ways of producing vegetables besides the use of improved varieties. She cuts seedling costs by germinating them in coconut shells with her own media instead of using polyethylene trays that cost money. She also uses a lot of animal manure to fertilize her plants. And she has learned to practice integrated pest management to mini- mize the use of expensive spray chemicals. Sandya has her own ambitions beyond vegetable production. She is saving at least SLR 500 (US$ 5) a month in her savings account at the CBO. Someday, she hopes to buy her own cow so she could produce milk for sale as well as for home use. Not a bad aspiration for a housewife who found financial security in intercropping, thanks to the implementation of the COGENT project in her village.

“Getting out of poverty through art and creativity” Success story of Ms Ramani Devendra, high-value coconut shell-based handicraft, Women’s Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

It pays to be naturally artistic. It can uplift one from abject poverty. Just like the case of Ramani Devendra, a 38-year-old jobless widow in the poor village of Wilpotha in western Sri Lanka. Her husband died while her son was still in her womb, and she did not have any income of her own. She was depending on the government’s social welfare allowance as well as on the little help her sisters and brothers could spare for her and her sons basic needs. Thanks to her artistic talent, she has now become financially independent. She doesn’t have to depend on government dole out anymore. Neither does she have to ask for mon- etary assistance from her relatives. The transformation was brought about by the implementation in 2002 of the IPGRI- COGENT poverty reduction project in her village through the Wilpotha Women’s Savings Effort (WSE). Ramani joined the WSE and participated in a training program on making coconut shell handicrafts organized for members of the group. Probably without her know- 142 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III ing it, the training has brought out the latent artistic talent in her. By the end of her training, she had come out with attractive coco shell handicrafts with her own designs. She immediately started making coconut shell handicrafts at the production and train- ing center set up at the WSE by the IPGRI-COGENT project. Her beautiful designs attracted local as well as foreign visitors to the training center and that’s where she started selling her own creations. Encouraged by the response of the people to her designs, she soon started approaching handicraft stores in town to offer her products. She discovered, however, that her products needed some improvements in quality to be able to compete with the other suppliers. That was a big challenge for her. She did everything to improve the quality of her products with the help of the training center. A big boost to her self-confidence was her winning the second prize of the presidential awards competition for handicrafts held in the North-Western Province organized by the National Crafts Center of Sri Lanka. With the award, she has become more determined than ever to excel in her handicrafts making activity. Her winning in the competition has opened new markets for her products. She soon got some export orders through the help of the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project. In July 2004, she shipped her first order of 250 pieces of coconut shell handicrafts to the Neth- erlands. Currently, she earns about SLR 2500 (US$ 25) a month from her products. This is still modest but is already enough for her and her son to be financially independent. As her little business grows, however, it is not far-fetched to believe that she can achieve a much more substantial financial success. This early, she has opened her own bank account, something she never thought could ever happen before the coming of the IPGRI-COGENT project. She now looks forward to building her own home in a quarter acre land she inherited from her mother. Ramani has also shown she cares for the less fortunate. Recently, she took the initiative to train a disabled youth member of the WSE on coconut shell handicraft making. She hopes that the fellow could become productive too by making handicrafts of his own.

CBO and coconut-based income-generating activity group success stories

“Women show the way in Dodanduwa” Success story of the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective (DWC) community-based organization, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

In some instances, it takes women to show the way in improving one’s livelihood. Like the women of a poor fishing village in Southern Sri Lanka, for instance. In their desire to in- crease family incomes, they put up 10 years ago the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective (DWC). The main objective was to finance yarn spinning for women in the village where coco- nut is the main crop. The organization provided loans to women engaged in coco coir yarn spinning as well as doormat making. Most of them, however, were into yarn spinning, an activity that did not pay much. Doormat-making could provide more income but the women did not have the training to do the job. An NGO, the Siyath Foundation, has been helping the DWC by buying all the doormats the members produced which the foundation exported. The big problem was that there was not enough doormats produced due to lack of skilled doormat makers. The NGO did not have the capacity to train workers for the purpose. It was therefore very timely that the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction in coconut growing communities selected DWC as the community-based organization (CBO) to implement the project. The DWC was then a well-established organization with a mem- SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 143 bership of 420 women who are poor but are willing to learn new money-making skills. Training on doormat making was the first priority since there was a ready market for such product - the Siyath Foundation. Four training programs on doormat making were undertaken participated in by about 100 women. Today, 95 percent of the women who trained are now gainfully self-employed producing doormats that are all sold to Siyath Foun- dation. Before the launching of the IPGRI-COGENT project, DWC had already a revolving fund for lending in the amount of SLR 800 000 equivalent to US$ 8 000. This was augmented by additional funds provided by IPGRI-COGENT in the amount of SLR 500 000 (US$ 5000) in the form of cash and in kind. More microcredit was extended to the members so they can engage in more income- generating projects. Loans in the form of raw materials for fiber-based products such as doormats were extended, payable in installments deducted from the sale of their products to Siyath Foundation. The new scheme of giving out loans in kind has been a welcome innova- tion introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT project. The members loved it because repayment of their loans was very systematic. The increase in available funds for lending opened new opportunities for the members. Trainings were conducted on other livelihood projects such as vegetable production, inter- cropping, livestock and poultry production, and nursery management. In the beginning the farmers were reluctant to try out the new projects recommended by the staff of the IPGRI-COGENT project. They thought that their land holdings were too small for such projects as vegetables and livestock and poultry production. A few of them, however, took the challenge and when they were successful, many of the members followed suit. Raising poultry, starting with two roosters and 10 hens, for instance, has become a popular choice among the women members as a source of supplemental income, and as a source of food for the family. The poultry project is also a favorite of the children and have taken over their parents as the main caretakers. Some enterprising women also saw the money-making potential of a hatchery so they have bought their own incubators for the hatching of chicks for sale to others who would like to raise chickens. Another money-making project that was identified during a survey was honeybee pro- duction in coconut gardens. Today, some 30 families are engaged in bee culture. Another project is mushroom production. Access to good quality coconut planting material has been a problem in Dodanduwa. To solve this problem, the IPGRI-COGENT project recommended the establishment of two nurs- eries, one of which also propagated seedlings of other crops besides coconut. Measures have also been taken to add more to the range of coconut-based products produced by the community. Today, they are successfully producing coconut shell handi- crafts, ekel/coir brooms, virgin coconut oil and others besides the main product - doormats. The COGENT project has created different sources of income for some 310 members of the community, generating an income of SLR 1.44M (US$ 14 400) in the last two years. Having heard of the progress made by the CBO in Dodanduwa, poor neighboring com- munities have invited the CBO officers to expand their activities to their villages. As a result, the micro credit activities have been extended to three villages, namely: Pitigala, Mannagoda and Patapola where the main crop is tea. During the participatory discussion, the idea of introducing coconut to tea lands emerged. This will benefit the farmers in two ways. The coconut will provide shade to the tea plants, and there will be a source of coconut for the tea farmers. A new group of doormat makers were also formed in the three villages. The IPGRI-COGENT project is proving that with a well organized CBO like Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, many new income-generating opportunities could be unlocked in poor coconut producing communities. 144 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Poor women discover there’s money in vegetables” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

Growing vegetables around the home has become a new way of earning supplemental in- come for women in the poor fishing village of Dodanduwa in Southern Sri Lanka, thanks to the poverty reduction project launched by IPGRI-COGENT in 2002. The women belong to a community-based organization (CBO) called Dodanduwa Women’s Collective which was picked by IPGRI-COGENT to implement its research project on reducing poverty in coconut growing communities. The women did not have any experience in intercropping vegetables in their home gar- dens. And even after attending seminar-workshops on the subject conducted by experts provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project, only one lady decided to try growing vegetables in her residential lot. Most of the women who participated in the training thought they could not grow vegetables in their home gardens. The lone lady planter had some previous experience in growing vegetables, that’s why she did not hesitate to buy the seeds she needed. As could be expected, especially with the added know-how she learned from the training, she succeeded in making vegetable inter- cropping a profitable undertaking. When she started to sell her vegetables to her neighbors, the other women became curi- ous. They visited the lady’s home garden and realized they could also do the same. The lady was just too glad to help the other women in starting their vegetable garden. The women formed a group which made it easy for the IPGRI-COGENT project to assist them not only on the technical aspect of vegetable production but also in making available to them inputs such as hybrid seeds of vegetables and fruit crops, fertilizers, crop protection chemicals and others. The women purchase these items as a group through a loan from the micro-credit sys- tem of the CBO, and later distributed to the members of the group. These are later repaid after they have sold their produce. Besides growing their vegetables in the ground, some of the women grow their veg- etables in low-cost containers such as discarded tins and polyethylene bags because of lack of space. They have also learned to practice integrated pest management (IPM) to minimize the cost of protecting their plants from pests and diseases. Another strategy that the women have adopted is group marketing of their fruits and vegetables so they can have a better price for their products. Since they are planting superior seeds, their products are of high quality and are preferred by buyers. The group’s net income from the sale of their intercrops ranges from SLR 600 to SLR 1,200 per month. This is considered a high enough supplemental income. What’s more im- portant, however, is the increased home consumption of vegetables by the growers them- selves which is not reckoned in their cash net income. In effect, the availability of vegetables for home consumption has enabled the families to save on food which they would otherwise have to buy. The intercropping project has also the added effect of helping ensure food security for people in the fishing village. As a whole, the vegetable growing project in Dodanduwa is making life a bit easier in the poor fishing village. Most of the residents have incomes below the poverty level. The menfolk are mainly engaged in fishing which is good only for six months of the year. Some of the women are also engaged in coconut fiber twine making but the income is also meager. Thus, the cash earned from vegetables is a most welcome supplemental income. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 145

“Loans in kind lead to more diversified sources of income” Success story of the village-level microcredit and revolving fund system of the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Microcredit and Revolving Fund System’ award)

Microcredit is enabling members of the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective (DWC) in Dodanduw, Galle, Sri Lanka to engage in more money-making projects they would not otherwise be able to undertake. Dodanduwa is a poor fishing village in the southern part of the country where most of the population has incomes below the poverty level. The men make very little income from fishing which is good only for six months of the year. The women, on the other hand, are engaged in white fibre extraction, coir yarn spinning and doormat making. These activities of both men and women don’t generate enough income to meet even just their basic needs. The DWC which was organized several years back has a total of 420 members, 98% of which are poor women. Practically all the members are illiterate and don’t have the re- quired guaranties so they could have access to credit from banks and other lending institu- tions. Through their own initiative, though, they put up their own micro-credit system with- out outside funding. As of the year 2002, before the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project was launched in the area, the CBO had a revolving fund of SLR 800 000 (US$ 8205). The implementation of the IPGRI-COGENT project in Dodanduwa in 2002 has given new life to the organization. Not only had the project provided an additional SLR 350 000 (US$ 3500) in cash and in kind to its revolving fund for lending to members. More impor- tantly, the IPGRI-COGENT project has introduced new skills and technologies so the mem- bers could diversify their sources of income. The microcredit loans were made available to the members in six categories, namely: purchase of raw materials, income generating activities, emergency requirements, health problems, housing, and other special occasions such as weddings. Cash loans were issued at 20% annual interest rate and the members are compelled to make compulsory monthly savings to avail themselves of the loan. One of the innovations adopted when the IPGRI-COGENT project was introduced was the granting of loans in kind. This has spurred more members to undertake new income- generating projects such as livestock raising and intercropping in coconut farms. The lending in kind has also helped the women engaged in coir fiber processing because they could then get as much fiber as they need in the form of a loan. Their finished products such as yarn and doormats are bought by the CBO and their amortization is automatically deducted from their sales. The CBO sells the products to an affiliated NGO, the Siyath Foun- dation. In the process, the CBO also makes money to add to its funds for further lending. Aside from deducting the loan payment from the proceeds of the member’s sale to the CBO, 2% of the sale value is deducted and credited to her compulsory saving. This is a forced saving that is available to the member at the end of the year as a bonus. Sometimes the accumulated money amounts to SLR 19 000 (US$ 190) per annum, a handsome amount to the poor village women. The CBO has found the deduction of amortization from the sales proceeds as a very efficient means of loan repayment for raw materials. The loan in kind for raw materials has become very popular with members. Loans taken under the scheme has reached around SLR 283 000 (US$ 2900) and is increasing. Many women choose to get their loans in kind because there is less risk in not being able to repay. Those engaged in animal raising also avail themselves of loans in kind even if the interest rates are much higher. Those in poultry pay 40% interest per annum while those in goats are charged 50%. No interest, however, is charged on cattle. The animals loaned out are insured to take care of the loss in case of death or if the animal is lost. Animal feeds can also be obtained as loan in kind for the livestock raisers. Members who are taking advantage of the loans in kind also include women who are growing coconuts and intercrops. The loans in kind include coconut seedlings, fruit tree planting materials, fertilizers and other inputs. 146 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Overall, the microcredit system of DWC has helped the poor women of Dodanduwa in diversifying their sources of income. No less than 250 of the members have been availing themselves of the small loans for their various projects. It is successful because it has devel- oped an efficient system of ensuring a high percentage of loan repayment. This enables it to increase its revolving fund so it could sustain its lending activities.

“How four poor women became entrepreneurs” Success story of the high-value fibre-based product group, Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

The poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT in coconut producing communities has produced all kinds of successes, even among the very poor. Just like four women of Dodanduwa, a poor fishing village in Southern Sri Lanka, namely: Prema Karunawadu, Kamala Kumarawadu, S Karunawathi and TN Lasantha. These women used to be engaged in coir yarn spinning as a source of income, making less than SLR 100 (US$ 1) a day. As the men are engaged in fishing with very minimal catch just six months of the year, the families’ incomes are not enough to meet even their basic needs. The yarns the women made were sold at a low price to companies that make them into finished products. Hence, they made only marginal incomes. When the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched in the village in 2002, things changed for the better for the women. They participated in trainings on making doormats and decided at first to engage in door- mat production individually. Only very few women are making doormats in Dodanduwa. As members of the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective (DWC), the four women have an advantage over the non- member doormat makers because they could sell all their products to the local NGO, the Siyath Foundation. As members of the CBO, they could also procure the materials (coir chains) from DWC in the form of a loan in kind, payable in installments deducted from the sale of their products to Siyath Foundation. The four women immediately realized a much higher income from doormat making than just yarn spinning. By then, each of the members was earning SLR 150 (US$ 1.50) to SLR 200 (US$ 2) per day. But the women who are neighbors thought that if they group themselves together, they could further increase their incomes. It was easy for them to work together because they are close neighbors. Instead of buying the ready-to-use coir chains from the CBO, they decided to produce them themselves with the help of the members of their families. They got together and learned how to dye coir, how to make the coir into chains, and others. This has created money-making opportunities for the other members of the family, including the males who can only fish about six months of the year. They created a division of labor in doormat making, resulting in more efficient production. As proof of their success, the four women have increased their daily income to SLR 200 (US$ 2) to SLR 300 (US$ 3), a far cry from their daily income of less than SLR 100 (US$ 1) per person before the implemen- tation of the IPGRI-COGENT project. In a recent 5-month period, the group made a net income of SLR 43 000 (US$ 430). The success of the group has inspired other women in the neighborhood to follow their example - which is good for the other women and for the community as a whole.

“CBO puts up its own nurseries” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

It takes a lot of effort to come up with a plant nursery in a poor fishing village like Dodanduwa in Southern Sri Lanka. The residents have very limited lands and each family has only a SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 147 limited number of coconut trees. The residents are not encouraged to plant more coconuts because the nearest government nursery is very far and the people will not travel the dis- tance just to buy a couple of seedlings. But there’s a need for a good source of selected seedlings. This was recognized from the very start when the IPGRI-COGENT’s poverty reduction project in coconut growing com- munities was introduced in Dodanduwa in 2002. Not one of the residents can do it by himself so the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, the CBO, took the challenge. It took the CBO a hard time to look for an appropriate site for the nursery. Not even representations by the local NGO, the Siyath Foundation, with the local government au- thorities could produce positive result. But the CBO was not discouraged. The CBO was finally able to negotiate with two big coconut estates in the area to rent a portion of their properties. Thus one nursery was put up in Dodanduwa and another one in the expanded project area called Batapola. A nursery group was formed in each of the nurseries. The one in Dodanduwa is led by Mr GK David while the one in Batapola is led by Mrs HK Malimage. Seednuts were sup- plied to them on a loan basis. While the CBO provides the financing of the nursery opera- tions, the people who work in them receive 50% of the profits. As part of the assistance to the project, the Genetic & Plant Breeding Division of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka conducted a farmer participatory survey to select locally adapted and high-yielding coconut varieties in the area. As a result, two outstanding farmers’ varieties were identified and these are now the sources of seednuts for propaga- tion. The nurseries are primarily for the propagation of coconut seedlings. However, a plant house was constructed in Batapola for the propagation of coconut seedlings as well as for paper plants and papaya seedlings. Within the short span of the nurseries’ operations, a total of 1300 coconut seedlings, 500 paper plants and 360 papaya seedlings have been sold. A lot more of these planting materi- als are in stock for distribution in the next planting season. The two nurseries are encouraged to supply planting materials to home-based gardens in the community. Seedlings of coconut and intercrops are issued to members on loan basis, which are paid for in the form of deductions from the sale of their doormats to Siyath Foun- dation. The CBO provides the raw materials for doormat making and also buys the finished products. This system ensures the prompt payment of the planting materials. The system has also made it convenient for the members to procure their planting mate- rials. The list of all available planting materials are posted at the CBO office where they can place orders. The nursery business has a good money-making potential in the long run. That is why the CBO is planning to acquire a bigger area where it can establish a bigger integrated nursery. In addition, the CBO has recently launched the growing of Dikiri coconut which is the equivalent of the high-value Makapuno or soft coconut in the Philippines. So far, a total of 150 Dikiri coconut seedlings have been planted by the members.

“Working as a group makes sense for women poultry raisers” Success story of the livestock (poultry) production group, Dodanduwa Women’s Collective, Dodanduwa, Galle, Sri Lanka

Backyard poultry raising is one of the new money-making ventures introduced by the pov- erty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT in coconut growing communities such as Dodanduwa, a poor coastal fishing village in Southern Sri Lanka in 2002. This may not look like a very big deal, but it means a lot to women who are making less than SLR 100 (US$ 1) a day from spinning coco coir yarn as their main source of income. Today, each woman raising a dozen or more hens are able to sell seven to eight eggs and 148 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III earning SLR 40-50 (US$ 0.40-0.50) per day. In addition, they set aside two to three eggs daily for home consumption. The additional income may look small but it goes a long way in meeting some of their basic needs. A total of 12 members of the Dodanduwa Women’s Collective (DWC), the CBO imple- menting the IPGRI-COGENT project, went into poultry raising after undergoing training provided by the project. As a strategy, they grouped themselves so that they could procure their requirements together more advantageously. For instance, the group buys their feeds, antibiotics and other requirements in bulk since sellers of these materials don’t sell them on retail. Accessing credit as a group is also an advantage. Getting assistance from government agencies is also much easier. For example, the group was able to buy at much lower price on loan basis an improved poultry breed from the Veterinary Research Institute of Sri Lanka. This breed is adapted to local condi- tions, are more productive, and can subsist on ordinary feed materials available in the vil- lage, including kitchen waste. When problems arise, such as the incidence of some disease, it is much easier for the group to get assistance from the appropriate agency. Raising poultry has its own advantages. The gestation period is very short. It needs very little space, and it is one project where the children can help by looking for feeds as well as gathering nesting materials. In most of the families, the chickens have become the children’s project, looking after the birds after school hours. In another sense, they learn early the value of labor. Plus, they also benefit from the better nutrition they get from eating home- grown eggs The present income from the women’s poultry project is still modest but they hope to make more in the near future as most of them are increasing their flocks. Three of the women have also purchased incubators as loans from the CBO for hatching chicks. They are now supplying chicks to other members as well as non-members of the CBO, making extra profit in the process. Incidentally, more women have become interested in poultry raising. Twelve new mem- bers have joined the poultry group.

“Practical interventions bring new life to a poor community” Success story of the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society (TEDS) community- based organization, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka (Winner of the ‘Best Global Coconut Community’ and the country-level ‘Best Project Community’ awards)

How do you bring progress to a poor community? Like, for instance, the poor coconut grow- ing communities? Just a number of practical interventions will do the trick. Like what the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction has brought to the remote village of Thuttiripitigama in the Kurunagala district in Northern Sri Lanka. Before the project was launched in September 2002, the farmers made very meager in- comes from selling fresh coconuts. Most of the families owned just 0.4 to 0.8 hectare each so they lived below the poverty line. They received social welfare allowances from the govern- ment which were not enough even for their most basic needs. When the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched, a community-based organization (CBO) was formed to implement the program. This is the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship De- velopment Society (TEDS) with just an initial membership of 30 men and women. The mem- bers pay SLR 100 as entrance fee and SLR 80 as annual fee which become part of the revolv- ing fund for lending to members. The IPGRI-COGENT project also provided initial funds in cash and in kind for use in micro financing. The funds have been properly conserved and have increased through the payments of the increased membership which has reached 180 as of the middle of 2004. As of May 2004, the revolving fund had reached a satisfactory level of SLR 463,225 (US$4,725) in the form of SLR 187,000 cash and SLR 276,225 in kind. The funds are deposited in the rural bank in the community. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 149

TEDS is managed by a committee of eight members, including the honorary president, secretary and treasurer. Committee meetings are held monthly to discuss the programs and other developments. From the outset, the IPGRI-COGENT project guided the members of the society to boost their self-confidence to come up with ideas to diversify their sources of income rather than engage in traditional agriculture. Members of the management committee were given train- ing on leadership, and a micro credit system was set up to help finance the CBO members’ new money-making projects. The micro credit was something new to the members who were at first skeptical about it. Members of the CBO were also given free training on the different skills required of the various livelihood projects. Then they were given loans in cash or in kind to start their coco- nut-based money-making activities. The members were also encouraged to form groups for a number of advantages. And they were urged to deposit their savings in the revolving fund of the society which paid an annual interest of 8 percent. Soon, the members started making money from different sources such as making value-added products, intercropping of cash crops, livestock and poultry production as well as production of coconut seedlings and plant- ing materials of other crops. CREDIT IN KIND. One key aspect of the micro credit system is the granting of loans in kind. TEDS has several ways of granting loans in kind, which could be in the form of plants, farm animals or tools and equipment. These are issued to individuals or groups as loans for income generation. Under the scheme, 145 members have availed themselves of loans in kind as of May 2004. These include farm animals such as cattle, chickens, turkeys, quails, goats, honeybees as well as planting materials of coconuts, vegetables and fruit trees. Tools and equipment for making handicraft items and other processed products are also acquired as loans in kind. Different systems of repayment are in place. For those raising chickens, they repay their loans in kind at an interest rate of 20%; 50% for goats, and no interest for cattle. The cattle is something different. The recipient is given a female cow. When it gives birth and it is a female, the recipient returns the mother cow to the CBO after weaning while he keeps the female calf. The mother cow is then loaned to another member. In case the calf is a male, he raises it for one year and then sells it. Half of the proceeds will go to the revolving fund of the CBO. The farmer keeps the mother cow until it gives birth to a female, after which he re- turns the cow to the CBO. INTERCROPPING. Growing vegetables and other cash crops between the coconut trees is one of the money-making activities espoused by the IPGRI-COGENT project. This has been a big success with the new technologies introduced by the experts well taken by the farmers. New high-value vegetables were introduced and the farmers have also learned to fertilize their crops for higher yields. In the process, the coconut trees also benefit from the application of fertilizers to the intercrops, resulting in higher nut yields. VALUE-ADDED MILK PRODUCTS. One significant achievement of the IPGRI-CO- GENT project is the production of value-added dairy products by some of the members. The farmers who were taking care of dairy animals could not make a profit before the project was launched because of the very low price offered by the milk collectors. The breakthrough came about when seven men and women dairy cattle raisers formed themselves into a group and trained in processing raw milk into high-value products such as milk toffee, yoghurt, curd, iced milk and ghee. They subsequently acquired the neces- sary equipment and tools through a loan from the CBO. Through the help of the experts from the government and IPGRI-COGENT, the group was able to come up with quality products that are now selling well not only in Thuttiripitigama but also in the nearby village of Dorawabila which was later included in the coverage of the poverty reduction project. The dairy farmers sell their products put up by the CBO in the nearest town as well as in schools. As proof of their success, they have started repaying their loan and are making their regular savings. They have also acquired a vehicle for delivering their products. 150 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

POULTRY. Raising poultry is another project that has become popular with the farm families. This has led to the establishment of community hatcheries to supply the chicks needed by the members as well as non-members of the society. The poultry project has not only provided a new source of income of those engaged in the activity. It has also improved the families’ nutrition. HIGH-VALUE PRODUCTS. Todate, members of TEDS are also gainfully engaged in producing high-value products out of different parts of the coconut. These products in- clude, coconut oil, white copra, soap, treacle, vinegar, doormats, thawashi brushes, husk chips, ekel and coir brooms and leaf baskets. COMMUNITY NURSERY. Lack of good quality planting materials has been a peren- nial problem of the villagers. The nearest government nursery is so far away that it was not worthwhile for the farmers to make a long and costly trip just to buy a couple of seedlings. So one of the priorities suggested by the IPGRI-COGENT project was the establishment of a community nursery where seednuts from selected productive trees would be germinated. The members engaged in seedling production were trained by experts from the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka and in no time they started producing the seedlings. As of middle of 2004, the nursery has germinated 3305 seedlings of which 2500 have been loaned to the farmers for planting in their own lots. The seednuts were sourced from trees from the village which were identified to be high-yielding by experts from CRISL. Having heard of the success of the village livelihood projects, the Minister of Plantation Industries visited the community to observe the villagers’ activities as well as to share expe- riences with them. Impressed by what he saw, the Minister told the TEDS members that the concept will be adopted by the government in other villages. The Minister for Rural Indus- tries also visited the site and promised further government assistance to their various projects. The success of the TEDS was not achieved without serious hurdles, though. Being a young organization, it was difficult to get the support of NGOs and other agencies. Market- ing their produce was also another problem. Initially, their products were turned down due to poor quality. But the members were not discouraged. They regarded their initial setbacks as more of a challenge. The IPGRI-COGENT project assisted them by giving them free trainings on the different skills they needed to improve their products. In marketing, they first concentrated in their own community. Then they were success- ful in getting orders from government-owned organizations. As the members’ products im- proved in quality, they were able to win the goodwill of many more buyers. Two sales out- lets for their products have been put up in the nearest town. Two groups have already purchased small delivery vehicles on loan to transport their products. All the above activities have brought new economic life to Thuttiripitigama and sur- rounding villages covered by the IPGRI-COGENT project. Many of the members have doubled their family incomes, thanks to the practical interventions introduced by the project.

“Intercropping group convinces the doubters” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka

There’s nothing like success to convince doubters about what is right, whether it be in farm- ing or in any other undertaking. Just like what the success of five has done in a poor coconut-producing village called Dorabawila in a province in northeastern Sri Lanka. The village is where the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction is being undertaken through a community-based organization (CBO) called the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society or TEDS. One of the interventions being espoused by the IPGRI-COGENT project is the planting cash crops between the coconut trees. To sell the idea, experts conducted seminars and SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 151 trainings on growing and managing intercrops. Field days were organized to show the ben- efits from this technology. Despite the lectures and demosntrations, however, very few were immediately sold to the idea. In fact, only five of the attendees, including a woman named Asha Purnima, were receptive enough to try intercropping in their farms. The five of them formed themselves into a group for a number of good reasons. As a group, they could access loans from the CBO much easier. They could also buy their inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides in bulk at a much cheaper price than when bought indi- vidually. Since the five have not enough cash of their own, they got their initial planting materials and other inputs as loan in kind from the CBO, payable after they shall have sold their harvests. Aside from the crops commonly grown in the locality, the IPGRI-COGENT project also introduced new varieties such as Cavendish banana and Red Lady papaya. It did not take long for the intercropping converts to show that there is money in grow- ing cash crops between the coconut trees. Asha Purnima, for instance, planted just 35 Cavendish bananas and 10 Red Lady papayas in their coconut farm. In just one year, she earned SLR 35 000 (US$ 350) from them. This had caught the interest of the neighbors who saw the beautiful bunches of her bananas. They were also impressed by the big income she derived from them. Because of that, the neighbors and other members of TEDS had also wanted to plant Cavendish banana. That meant more income for Asha because she sold her suckers at SLR 30 (US$ 0.30) apiece. From her suckers, she earned an extra SLR 9000 (US$ 90). RMT Bandara chose 2000 pineapples and papayas as his intercrops in his half-acre co- conut farm. His first crop gave him a net income of SLR 30 000 (US$ 300). He did not only make money from his fruits, he also derived extra income from the suckers he sold to other farmers who also wanted to plant pineapple. His coconut trees also benefited from inter- cropping because the organic fertilizer applied to the pineapple, resulting in increased yields. Sunil Jayaweera, another member of the group, planted vegetables along with bananas and papayas in his one-fourth acre farm of young coconuts. In his first year, he made SLR 10 000 from his chilies, tomatoes, bitter gourd and from his fruit crops. With his income, he has expanded his area for papaya production because he has observed that this fruit is in big demand in the community. The other members of the group, Premaratne Gomis and WM Wijesinghe, have also intercropped Cavendish banana and earned abut SLR 9000 (US$ 90) and SLR 20 000 (US$ 200), respectively, last year. They also earned SLR 10 000 (US$ 100) from their papayas last season. The five members of the group are all the more convinced that there is money in inter- cropping. So are the other members of the community who once doubted the viability of the technology in their farms. Now they have begun to adopt the idea.

“Value-adding is dairy farmers’ key to survival” Success story of the livestock production and management group, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka (Winner of the ‘Best Global Group on Coconut-Based Livestock Production and Management’ award)

In the coconut-growing community of Thuttiripitigama, a remote village in the Kurunegala district of Northern Sri Lanka, farmers raise dairy cows under their coconut trees. The prob- lem was that they did not make any money from the fresh milk they produced because of the low buying price the milk collectors paid. The SLR 18 (US$ 0.18) they received per liter of fresh milk was too low that the farmers were not encouraged at all to expand their projects. In fact, many of them stopped raising dairy animals. The situation dramatically changed for seven such farmers when the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction in coconut growing communities was launched in 2002 through the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, TEDS for short. 152 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

The poverty reduction project identified value-adding to milk as a means to help the poor dairy farmers get a higher income. Hence, the project organized several training pro- grams for members of the CBO to gain skills on the production of milk-based products with higher value such as milk toffees, yoghurt, curd, iced milk and ghee. Experts from the gov- ernment as well as the private sector conducted the trainings. After the training, seven members formed themselves into a group to produce several value-added milk products. These include four men and three women, namely: BMK Bandara, the group leader, RAS Kumari, RMS Jayalath, A. Chandani, BMS Bandara, P Wickramasinghe and C Mahesh. Forming themselves into a group offered a number of advantages. For one, they could obtain a more substantial loan from the CBO’s revolving fund to purchase the equipment they needed as well as the money to purchase milk from other farmers. As a group, they could produce the volume of milk products which they would not be able to do if they operated individually. They could undertake a more organized marketing of their products in a bigger scale, too. At the start, the group encountered some technical problems but these were solved through the guidance of experts provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project. The experts inculcated in the members the importance of producing high quality milk products through the adoption of proper hygiene and sanitation in the manufacturing process. They also emphasized the importance of developing a brand with a catchy design. The group adopted the Kapruka, the local name of the coconut tree, as their brand with a cow grazing under a coconut tree as their logo. For the group, it was a big challenge to compete with the multinationals that were sup- plying milk products nationwide. It introduced its value-added dairy products in small scale by personal delivery to the homes of buyers and retail outlets in the surrounding areas. The milk products were also introduced in nearby schools where school children could buy them instead of carbonated drinks. It did not take long for the Kapruka milk products to become popular with the school kids and their teachers. In fact, a number of other school authorities had invited the group to put up selling stalls in their campuses, too. The Kapruka milk products compare very well in quality with the products of the big companies, and they are also cheaper. The group has discovered that by processing the fresh milk, they can increase its value five times. That is why they can buy other people’s milk at SLR 19 (US$ 0.19) per liter which is higher than the price offered by the milk collecting company in Thuttiripitigama. Being able to pay a higher price for other farmers’ fresh milk is the biggest benefit their project has provided to their community. The benefit has also spread to other communities since some of their milk suppliers now come from outside Thuttiripitigama. Of course, the members of the group are happy not only because they are making more money from the milk they themselves produce but also because their group is making its own net profit of at least SLR 5000 (US$ 50) monthly. Milk processing has thus emerged as the key to the survival of the once-unprofitable dairy farming operations of the small farmers in Thuttiripitigama. And this is also ensuring the availability of much needed nourishing dairy products in the community, thanks to the COGENT project that started it all.

“Jobless women learn to make coconut oil, vinegar and soap” Success story of the coconut-based high-value products group, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka

With some training and motivation, rural women with no paid jobs can become productive small entrepreneurs. Just like five women members of the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneur- ship Development Society (TEDS) in the poor village of Dorabawila in the Kurunegala dis- trict of Northern Sri Lanka. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 153

When the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction in coconut-growing communi- ties was launched in the village in 2002, one of the possible money-making activities identi- fied was the production of coconut oil and other products with high-value derived from the coconut. These products include coconut oil, vinegar and soap. These are products that could be made easily in Dorawabila with the proper training since people in the village grow a lot of coconuts. They also grow rice, vegetables and other crops but harvests are usually low because of frequent droughts. Rains come only six months of the year, hence many of the people are very poor and are recipients of the government’s social welfare fund. The IPGRI-COGENT project, through TEDS, conducted trainings on the production of coconut oil and other products from coconut. Soon after the training, five women led by Mrs. Managalika Gamage formed themselves into a group that would go initially into the business of producing coconut oil. By forming themselves in to a group, they could avail themselves of loans from the CBO for acquiring their equipment. Convinced that the group was serious in its desire to go into coconut oil production, TEDS requested the IPGRI-COGENT project to provide a coconut oil expelling facility as a loan to the group of five women. The equipment included an oil expeller, copra crusher and oil filter which were installed in a building rented by the group. It did not take long for the five women to start making coconut oil. In the beginning the TEDS provided them 500 kilos of copra on credit, payable on installment as soon as they started selling their oil. The equipment are also amortized monthly from the profits of the group. The women members assigned themselves particular jobs in the operation of the business, such as procuring supplies, making copra, oil production and marketing. Although they encountered some technical production problems in the beginning, these were solved with the help of experts provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project. They were soon producing 25 to 30 liters of coconut oil a day which they readily sold right in the community. Besides their income from the oil they made, they earned additional income from other people who brought their copra to the mill and have the oil extracted for home consumption. Earlier, people used to sell their fresh coconuts and buy coconut oil from the store. By having their oil extracted in the mill operated by the five women, the villagers in effect could get unadulterated coconut oil at a cheaper price than when bought from out- side. This has resulted in higher coconut oil consumption in the village. It has also meant higher income for the coconut farmers because instead of selling their fresh coconuts, they convert them into copra for sale at a higher price to the women’s group. With their success in coconut oil production, the women then turned their attention to vinegar making out of the coconut water that is just thrown away. Experts of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL) taught them how to make vinegar from coconut water. About 500 coconuts yield 60 liters of coconut water which the women convert into vinegar in two months. Vinegar sells for SLR 25 (US$ 0.25) per 750 ml bottle and the group was able to earn a net profit of SLR 5000 (US$ 50) from the first batch of vinegar made by them. Part of the coconut oil that the group produces is also made into soap now, learning the technique from experts provided by the COGENT project. They use the second grade coco- nut oil to produce laundry soap at a low cost. They acquired a soap-pressing machine as loan from the CBO which enables them to produce quality cake soaps ready for delivery to the market. From soap making, the group now earns a net profit of SLR 2000 (US$ 20) a month. As the business grows, they expect to make much more. Overall, the group has increased its monthly net income to SLR 10 000 (US$ 100) through hard work and dedication. One proof of its success is that it has purchased a small car, a three-wheeler, to deliver its products to customers. The group has also started to repay its loans monthly. Some of the members have likewise bought coconut seedlings and fertilizers for their farms. 154 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

The five women have proven once more that right interventions, no matter how modest, can go a long way in improving life in poor coconut-growing villages.

“Nursery can be profitable even in a poor community” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka

With the right training, technical support and access to some kind of financing, putting up a nursery can be a profitable project even in a poor coconut growing community such as Dorawabila village in Northern Sri Lanka. When the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction was launched in 2002 in Dorawabila, one of the recommendations was to put up a coconut nursery in the village. The nursery would not ensure the availability of seedlings propagated from selected high- yielding mother trees but will also be a source of income for those involved in the project. With the help of experts from the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL), mem- bers of the CBO, the Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society (TEDS), were trained on nursery establishment and plant propagation techniques. Soon, a group of five, headed by Mrs RA Sumitra Kumari, organized themselves to put up the first nursery. Initially, the group started the nursery with 1000 nuts collected from identified high- yielding trees from local farmers’ farms. The seednuts were provided as loan in kind by the CBO to be paid later. Under the scheme agreed upon by the group and the CBO, the nursery group will pay the cost of the seednuts plus 15% of the profit which will go to TEDS’ revolv- ing fund. The nursery operation was a money-maker from the start because there was a ready market for the seedlings. Each CBO member was issued 5 coconut seedlings at SLR 30 (US$ 0.30) per seedling for planting in their own lands. Non-members also bought some of the seedlings at the higher price of SLR 40 (US$ 0.40) per seedling. Those planted in polybags, on the other hand, were sold at SLR 75 (US$ 0.75) each. Because there was demand for other plants besides coconut seedlings, the nursery group also saw the need to produce seedlings of vegetables and fruit trees for intercropping in the members’ lands. With the expansion of the IPGRI-COGENT project to neighboring villages, it was neces- sary to put up another nursery in the village called Borampola. Taking charge of this new nursery is Lalith Rajapaksa, an enterprising diversified farmer-entrepreneur. Although the nurseries have operated only for a relatively short period, the nursery group has already sold seedlings worth SLR 66 640 (US$ 666.40). The group has earned for itself SLR 30 000 (US$ 300) while SLR 33 000 (US$ 330) was added to the CBO’s revolving fund. The value of unsold stock amounts to SLR 96 000 (US$ 960). Judging from the initial success of the nursery group, it is not far-fetched to assume that the group will make even much more profit as their production expands to meet the grow- ing needs of the farmer-members of the CBO. After all, as time passes the operators are expected to become more proficient not only in production but also in marketing. The pros- pects are bright indeed for the nursery group.

“Right lending policies keep revolving fund growing” Success story of the village-level microcredit and revolving fund system, Thuttiripitigama Entrepreneurship Development Society, Hettipola, Kurunugala, Sri Lanka

The Thuttiripitigana Entrepreneurship Development Society (TEDS) has proven once more that even very small credits can mean a lot to poor families in a coconut-growing commu- nity. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 155

TEDS is the community-based organization (CBO) that has been selected by IPGRI-CO- GENT to implement its project on poverty reduction in coconut-growing communities in Northern Sri Lanka. Although TEDS was formed only in September 2002, it has provided the necessary credit for the poor farmers to undertake various money-making ventures. Through proper management and the right lending policies, TEDS has been able to main- tain a satisfactory level of its revolving fund for lending. The fund as of May 2004 stood at SLR 463 225 (US$ 4630.25) in the form of cash (SLR 187 000 or US$ 1870) and in kind (SLR 276 225 or US$ 2762.25). The fund that was provided as initial funding by IPGRI-COGENT has been augmented by the contributions of the members. Each member, for instance, has to pay an entrance fee of SLR 100 (US$ 1), which is credited to his account. Also, the mem- bers pay annual dues of RSL 80 and borrowers are required to make monthly savings to augment the revolving fund. From an initial membership of 30 people in September 2002, the members have increased to 180 as of May 2004. Farmers find that it pays to become a member of TEDS because that makes them eligible to borrow from the CBO to finance their own money-making projects. By being a member, they also receive free training on various livelihood skills. They are likewise assisted in mar- keting their produce. TEDS is implementing a practical micro credit system that suits the circumstances of the members, many of them very poor. Loans are made in cash as well as in kind. Individuals as well as groups of at least five members can avail themselves of loans. In some instances, such as those engaged in milk processing, it is more advantageous for the members to form them- selves into a group. That way, they can borrow bigger amounts and also purchase inputs in bulk at a cheaper price. In the case of a group, the leader is responsible for obtaining and repaying the loan. The other members, on the other hand, have to sign as co-makers. Monthly savings in the revolv- ing fund is a must for all credit recipients, whether group or individual. The minimum sav- ing is SLR 500 (US$ 5) a month; the saving could be higher, depending on the income of the project. The CBO gives 8% interest on savings. On the other hand, it charges 12% per an- num on loans. The maximum amount a group can borrow is SLR 25 000 (US$ 250). In the case of cash loans, these are released only after the credit committee has evaluated the credit-worthiness of the borrower and his capacity to implement the project for which he is taking the loan. The member’ participation in the CBO’s organizational activities and meetings is also given weight. Loans in kind are an innovation adopted by the CBO. The loans in kind can be in the form plants for planting, improved breeds of animals, or equipment and tools. Payment schemes differ among the items loaned. For instance, 20% interest is charged on poultry; 50% for goats, and no interest on cattle. In the case of cattle, a member may receive a pregnant cow. If it gives birth to a female calf, the mother cow is returned to the CBO for lending to another recipient after the calf is weaned. The female calf will be retained by the borrower as his compensation for taking care of the mother cow. In case the calf is a male, the borrower will keep the mother cow. When the male calf is one year old, it is sold and half of the proceeds goes to the CBO. As of the middle of 2004, a total of 145 members have availed themselves of the loans in kind. It is a practical way of helping poor farmers to have access to improved breeds of animals and plants. The CBO’s revolving fund is deposited in the rural bank in the community. The CBO and the bank have a working arrangement for the speedy release of loans to the members. 156 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Being well organized is CBO’s key to success” Success story of the Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) community-based organization, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

The Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) could be considered very instrumental in uplifting the lives of the poor farm families in the village of Wilpotha in Northwestern Sri Lanka’s Puttalam district. It all started when a group of women decided to make extra income from making coco- nut bract handicrafts which they sold not only in the community but also outside. In the beginning it was just a loose group that engaged in the activity. They soon found, however, that they could do much more if they formed a formal organization. And so they organized the Women’s Savings Effort for a number of good reasons. With the organization, they can procure their requirements in bulk at lower prices and they can also market their produce in a more organized way. They can also establish a fund with their own savings for the pur- pose of providing credit to members who need capital. Having formed themselves into a formal association has brought about undreamed of benefits. One of them was when the Women’s Savings Effort was chosen as the CBO (com- munity-based organization) to implement the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT in 2002. That has proven to be a major milestone in the history of WSE. The project has been responsible for creating new livelihood projects aside from making coconut bract handi- crafts. The more lucrative activity of making coconut shell handicrafts was developed through the training provided by the COGENT project. Assistance from government and private institutions was also extended to the organized group. The Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), for instance, has helped the WSE in explor- ing new markets for their coconut shell products. The VSO has helped in preparing promo- tional brochures and even a web site. As proof of the CBO’s success with the help of other organizations, it has earned last year SLR 670 000 (US$ 6700) from bract and coco shell handicrafts, giving each member a monthly income of SLR 2500 (US$ 25). Other income-generating activities hitherto taken for granted in Wilpotha were intro- duced. For instance, some members have successfully raised improved varieties of vegetables after given the proper training and strategies. To mitigate the effect of frequent droughts, the farmers were trained to plant short-term crops during the six rainy months. They se- lected the drought-resistant varieties that could survive dry spells. Some members are also successful in growing vegetables during the dry months by put- ting up deep wells made possible by loans in kind from the micro credit system of the CBO. A number of members are also successful in raising farm animals, thanks to the training and other assistance given them by the IPGRI-COGENT project and other assisting NGOs and government agencies. Improved breeds of chickens have been introduced and distrib- uted to the members as loans in kind. Goats and cattle are also raised not only for meat but also for milk. Another achievement of the WSE under the IPGRI-COGENT project is the establishment of not one but three nurseries for propagating selected high-yielding coconuts grown right from the village. Besides the indigenous varieties, new high-value coconuts have also been introduced such as the Dikiri Pol which is the equivalent of the soft endosperm coconut or Makapuno from the Philippines. The success of the IPGRI-COGENT project in Wilpotha has since been expanded to in- clude three more villages in Puttalam district. These are Watiya, Thammana and Kajuwatta. Local politicians have taken interest in the project and they want the concept to be adopted in other places. This has also attracted outside grant-giving agencies such as the British High Commission in Colombo which donated basic sanitary facilities in the new areas. Several other agencies have extended their assistance, thanks to the IPGRI-COGENT project. These include the National Engineering Research & Development Center, Volun- tary Services Organization, Livestock Department, Gospal House and others. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 157

One of the biggest problems of the CBO members is marketing their products. Because the village is very remote, transportation is expensive. Somehow, though, through their be- ing organized, they are able to manage their marketing problem to some extent. Collabora- tion with NGOs has opened some marketing avenues for their products. Most of their diffi- culties have been solved through their collective effort.

“Village women learn how to beat drought” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Women’s Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

When the poverty reduction project of COGENT was introduced in Wilpotha, a poor coco- nut growing village in Northern Sri Lanka in 2002, twelve women chose intercropping as their new money-making activity. Intercropping their coconut trees with high-value vegetables and other crops was some- thing new. Although their land holdings are relatively bigger than most other communities in Sri Lanka, very few of the villagers planted vegetables because the place is often hit by drought. Without the right know-how, they could not produce a decent harvest. The IPGRI-COGENT project, however, taught them how to beat the problem of frequent droughts. The experts conducted trainings on growing intercrops between their coconut trees. They identified the drought-resistant fruits and vegetables that included cashew trees, peanut and a number of vegetables. Water conservation techniques were also taken up. They were taught to use rice straw as mulch for their crops to conserve moisture. The village women were also taught integrated pest and disease management to mini- mize the use of expensive chemicals. With the improved techniques of growing intercrops, the women themselves were amazed the healthy vegetables that they produced. The other members of the CBO, the Women’s Savings Efforts (WSE), also took note of the good performance of the intercropping group and showed interest themselves in planting crops between their own coconut trees. The intercropping group sold their produce every week in the village fair or market. On the average, they are making an income of SLR 1000 to 2000 (US$ 10-20) a month. That’s not really much but it is an additional income that means a lot to the poor families. As they become more experienced, the women could expect to make much more. What is also significant is that they don’t have to buy fresh vegetables for their own consumption anymore. Their favorite vegetables are there ready for the picking right in their own backyards.

“New products, new designs enable women’s group to compete” Success story of the high-value coconut-based products group, Women’s Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

New products and new designs are enabling a group of women coconut handicraft makers in a remote coconut-growing community in Sri Lanka to compete in the marketplace. This is the group called Women’s Savings Efforts (WSE) in the village of Wilpotha in the western part of the country. WSE is an organization of 22 poor women headed by Mrs HHAD Karanuwathi who formed themselves into a group several years ago with the main purpose of making coconut bract handicrafts. The raw materials are readily available in the village because coconut is the main crop that can survive the frequent droughts in the area. The income from coconut farming, however, is so low that the income from the nuts which are sold unprocessed is not enough even just to meet the basic needs of the farm families. Practically all of them are living below the poverty level. 158 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Making coconut bract handicrafts had provided members of the group a source of addi- tional income. It is a good option for many of the women to engage in the activity in their spare time after doing their household chores. Working as a group has been an advantage in marketing their products as well as in purchasing their requirements in bulk. In the beginning, the members of the group made bract handicrafts using their own methods and designs. With the assistance of some groups they were able to develop their products according to the needs of the market. However, they found it difficult to compete with other producers who made similar products of better quality and more up-to-date designs. The women have always used their own old designs without much improvement. The big break for the group came when the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduc- tion in coconut growing communities chose WSE as the implementing CBO (community- based organization). Immediately, the IPGRI-COGENT-engaged experts, in collaboration with the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), analyzed what could be done to help the belea- guered bract handicraft makers of Wilpotha. As initial step, the project conducted a market survey to identify the potential markets for bract handicrafts. Over 30 target groups of buyers were consulted on how the women’s products could be upgraded. Poor quality and obsolete designs were highlighted by many of the respondents. Immediately, the IPGRI-COGENT project with the help of the VSO organized a training program on new designs and on improving the quality of their handicrafts. The women members were also given the opportunity to meet the prospective buyers themselves so they can identify their market requirements and standards. The effort was successful and the group now produces and supplies coconut shell hardicrafts along with bract handicrafts. The project in collaboration with VSO helps the community explore new markets and market promotion through the preparation of bro- chures, websites, etc. A marketing officer was recruited with the help of VSO whose job includes meeting potential buyers and to promote marketing of their products. The project also sponsored the participation of the women’s groups in trade fairs. Getting supply orders and pricing of the products produced by the members are done by the CBO. Eighty percent of the profit directly goes to the producer while the remaining 20 percent is divided as follows: 2% to the designer of the particular item (one of the members of the group); 2% for maintenance of tools and equipment; 5% as compulsory saving for members (credited to the account of the members); 1% for transport and management; and 10% for the revolving fund of the CBO. The group has earned SLR 670 000 (US$ 6700) during the last 12 months from the sales of bract and coconut shell handicrafts. This has meant an average monthly income of SLR 2500 (US$ 25) per member. They are planning to expand their product range to enhance their profits. They have already received an initial order for a new coconut husk handicraft which is a byproduct of virgin coconut oil. The production of virgin coconut oil is also a new venture introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT project. With their income, the members have been able to afford to buy more of their basic needs. Some have saved their income for future use. The women have realized the impor- tance of savings to support additional money-making activities. Some of them have already used their savings as deposit to be eligible to take loans from the microcredit system. A number of such loans have been used to build or repair their homes.

“Village women beat usurious rates; prove the men wrong” Success story of the microcredit and revolving fund system of the Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) community-based organization, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

Several years ago, an initial group of 19 women from a poor coconut growing village in western Sri Lanka thought of forming an association so that they can save together and build a fund that will lend money to the members at a much more reasonable rate of interest than the prevailing usurious rate of 20% per month. Many of the villagers, especially the SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 159 men, were skeptical about the idea thinking it will never succeed. After all, the women are very poor and also lacked education. These women, however, have proven the skeptics wrong. Today, the association has a membership of more than 300 women and is lending to its members at only 18% interest per year, and giving a 12% interest per annum for members’ deposits. This is the Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) in the village of Wilpotha, Puttalam district in western Sri Lanka. The WSE organizers were engaged in making coconut bract handicrafts as a means to augment the family’s income from coconut farming. Wilpotha grows a lot of coconuts be- cause this is one of the few crops that could survive the frequent droughts in the area. Income from coconuts was so meager, however, because the farmers just sold the nuts at a very low price. They didn’t process them at all for added value. That is why many of the women engaged in making bract handicrafts for additional income. Lack of affordable credit, however, was a constraint in their handicraft production. Usu- rers in the village charged 20% interest per month (not per annum!). This prompted the women to organize their saving’s association by compelling them to deposit at least one rupee a month. The organizers early realized, however, that their initial system of lending was inad- equate. They had to operate like a bank. The management committee was fortunate enough to undergo a training on micro credit system management. Thus was born the Wilpotha Women’s Savings Effort which has been accepting deposits as well as lending money to its members like a bank. It lends to borrowers at 18% a year and gives 12% interest on deposits. While the interest charged on loans are at par with commercial banks, its interest on depos- its is much higher. That is the reason why many of the members save in the CBO rather than in the bank. As of the middle of 2004, the revolving fund had reached SLR 2M (US$ 20 000). Members can deposit their money in any amount and at any time. One more benefit the members get is the low 2% annual interest they pay for housing loans. The micro credit system of WSE was further enhanced when the organization was cho- sen as the implementing agency of the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project in coco- nut growing communities in 2002. With the introduction of loans in kind, more members could avail themselves of credit for various money-making activities. Credit limits for mem- bers have been increased. Now, a member can borrow a maximum cash loan of SLR 50 000 (US$ 500). With increased incomes from handicraft making and available loans, many women members have built their homes with improved sanitary facilities. Some of them have started other money-making activities with their savings. Some have availed themselves of electric connection and have bought new appliances such as radios and TV sets. More of the chil- dren are now in school. In short, life is much better now in Wilpotha, thanks in great mea- sure to the launching of the IPGRI-COGENT project three years ago.

“Livestock bank is key to animal raising success” Success story of the livestock production and management group, Women’s Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

One unique innovation adopted by a poor coconut growing community in Sri Lanka to promote the raising of farm animals is what they call a “Livestock Bank.” This is a project of the community-based organization (CBO) which farm families interested in raising poultry and livestock can source their requirements under affordable terms. The particular CBO which put up the Livestock Bank is the Wilpotha Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) in the remote village of Wilpotha in the Puttalam district in western Sri Lanka. Through the Livestock Bank, members of the CBO can source their stocks in the form of a loan in kind, also payable in kind. For poultry, for instance, a member can get 10 birds and pay the same in the form of 15 birds one year later. By that time the chickens shall have 160 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III multiplied many times. In the case of goats, four goats have to be returned for every two goats received. Another scheme is followed in the case of cattle. The borrower gets one female cattle. The first born is kept by the recipient. When the mother cows gives birth a second time, the mother and the calf are returned to the CBO for relending to other members. The concept of the Livestock Bank has been well accepted by farmers, mostly women, in Wilpothat. As of the middle of 2004, some 38 families have availed themselves of loans in kind from the Livestock Bank. Improved breeds of poultry, cattle and goats have been dis- tributed to the members by WSE. So far, those raising poultry have been making an extra daily income of SLR 30-50 (US$ 0.30-0.50) per day. That’s not really bad for a start. As the families increase their flocks, they could expect to make much more. The beauty about poultry raising is that it has a very short gestation period. The hens start laying eggs after just several weeks from hatching. The other members who have formed their own groups also realize incomes from milk they collect from their goats and cows. The recipients of cattle and goats have already ob- tained their second generation. What is also important is that the families are now enjoying better nutrition as they consume some of the eggs and milk they produce. More families are growing goats and cattle now, thanks to the IPGRI-COGENT project which was launched in Wilpotha in 2002. Experts have taught the farmers to grow forage for their animals as well as to make use of supplementary feeds formulated from locally available raw material. Lack of feeds before had been the main reason why very few families raised farm animals before the implementation of the IPGRI-COGENT project. Aside from providing the farmers access to improved breeds of animals, the project has been making sure that the animals are properly protected from diseases and other problems. A veterinarian in the district is helping the farmers regarding animal disease prevention and control in their farms.

“Nurseries mean profits and new jobs” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Women’s Savings Effort, Wilpotha, Puttalam, Sri Lanka

One community-based organization (CBO) operating in a poor coconut-growing commu- nity in Sri Lanka has discovered that a plant nursery can be profitable and at the same time can create new job opportunities. That is why in addition to its first nursery, it has added two more after just a year. The CBO is the Wilpotha Women’s Savings Effort (WSE) in the remote village of , Puttalam district in northwestern Sri Lanka. As the implementing agency of the COGENT project on poverty reduction in coconut growing communities, WSE put up a community-managed nursery to propagate seedlings of high-yielding coconut trees. These were selected right from the area by the Genetics and Plant Breeding Division of the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL). Initially, the COGENT project trained the members of the CBO on how to establish and manage a nursery not only for coconuts but also for cash crops for intercropping. For a start the COGENT project paid for the cost of the first 1500 seednuts which became part of the revolving fund. A member of the CBO was employed to manage the first nursery. Some members volun- teered their services while the nursery project was not yet making money. It did not take long, however, before the nursery earned money. Of the initial 1500 seednuts, a total of 1350 seedlings were issued to the members as loan in kind. The CBO soon realized that the demand for quality seedlings was so big that the nursery could not produce enough to meet the requirements. Thus, two more nurseries were estab- lished in two other remote areas. Two members of the CBO, Mr M Thilakesiri and Mr S SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 161

Punchibanda, were tapped to put up the nurseries in their respective areas under very fa- vorable terms. As per agreement, the CBO provided the seednuts while the nursery operators provided the labor and the area. When the seedlings are sold, the cost of the seednuts and 15% of the profit are returned to the CBO. The nursery operator, on the other hand, pockets 85% of the profit. It has been a profitable arrangement for the nursery operators. For example, just from 2500 seedlings produced in the two newer nurseries in 2004, the two operators were esti- mated to make SLR 51 000 (US$ 510) as their share of the profits. That means a lot to the two men. Mr Thalakasiri has been a coconut picker without any regular income while Mr Punchibanda has been and still is a lowly paid government employee of Samurdhi, the government social support scheme. The nursery operation has been profitable for the CBO as well. In one batch of 1600 seedlings issued to the community, the CBO realized a net profit of SLR 34 000 (US$ 340). Another batch of 1700 seedlings were also about ready for distribution as of this writing which will also give a considerable income. The main nursery established in the premises of the CBO has also expanded its opera- tion. It is now producing seedlings of intercrops such as cashew, papaya, lime and drought- resistant vegetables. To make sure that the nurseries operate efficiently, water pumps have been put up in the nursery sites. A member nominated by the CBO also coordinates the nursery group so pro- duction could be maximized. 162 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

Indonesia success stories

Doah Dekok Tarigans1 and Jeanette Kumaunang2 1Project Leader, Indonesian Centre for Estate Crops Research and Development (ICECRD), Bogor; and 2Project Facilitator, Indonesian Coconut and Other Palmae Research Institute (ICOPRI), Manado, Indonesia

Individual farmer success story

“Hope srpings eternal... from the ground” Success story of Mr Muhiddin “Idin” Mokodompit, Kelompok Tani Kelapa Momosad, Nonapan 1, North Sulawesi, Indonesia (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut- Based Intercropping’ award)

Muhiddin Mokodompit, Idin to friends, used to monocrop coconut and teach Al Quran reading for a living. From copra, he earned about Rp 200,000 (US$ 23) a month. With a family to feed, two children to send to school and other expenses, this was just not enough. “I wanted to earn more from my land, but I did not have the capital or the knowledge to do it,” Idin ex- plains. Only able to finish some years in high school, he also was not success- ful in finding a job in the city. “It was a really difficult time back then,” Idin remembers. Then the COGENT-coor- dinated poverty reduction project came (Above) Idin and his to Nonapan in 2002. corn intercrops planted on the He first heard about the project in mountainside of late 2002 when the CBO for Nonapan Nonapan. (Right) His peanut-banana- was being organized. He eventually corn intercrops in joined the CBO in January 2003 and another part of the soon after trained in new techniques village in intercropping. Enthusiastic to ap- ply his new skills, he obtained a loan of Rp 100,000 (US$ 12) from the CBO’s revolving fund to purchase planting materials for his intercrops. He first intercropped peanuts and banana, “but rats destroyed most of my new plantings,” he remembers. Undaunted, he continued and was able to control the rat problem by using rat poison and (used) engine oil. “Rags dipped in used engine oil and wrapped around the top of a stick and then planted on the ground near the intercrops kept the rodents away, as well as the wild pigs that also munched on my crops and the coconut seedlings that I have just planted,” Idin explains, “I guess they don’t like the smell of the oil.” His perseverance eventually paid off. In less than 10 months, he has repaid his loan from the CBO, plus interest. From just peanuts and banana as intercrops, Idin now also grows corn, kalamansi (lime), lemongrass, pineapple, mango, rambutan, cacao and chili/ pepper along with his coconuts. This mixed cropping now nets for Idin and his family Rp 420,000 (US$ 50) a month, or more than double his previous farm earnings! What is special SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 163 about Idin’s intercrops is that most of them are planted on Nonapan’s mountainside, which used to be unproductive grasslands. “Usually, I had to stay up here for most of the day and sometimes during the night as well to take care of my crops. My wife helps in applying fertilizer (manure), harvesting and bringing me food,” Idin adds. He brings down his har- vests by using a horse-drawn cart, which is a rather difficult task given the rough and steep terrain, which also becomes muddy and very slippery during the rainy season. “But I’m quite used to it. My friends sometimes joke that climbing and going down this mountain everyday is the main reason I did not grow so tall,” he laughs. Idin is just a little over five feet. But within his community, Idin stands tall among his peers. Through his own initiative and the help of the project, he has not only earned additional income but also enhanced his family’s nutrition through his intercrops. He is also now not worried about the education of his children as he is more confident that his farm earnings would be sufficient. By practicing intercropping, he not only learned but also developed his own techniques, which he will- ingly shares with his fellow coconut farmers not only in Nonapan but in other communities as well. This has earned for Idin a new sense of confidence and self-esteem as he is looked up to as a leader and an innovator. His harvests, too, are sometimes so much that he gives some away to his fellow villagers. “I believe that it is by giving that one gets more, and this is my way of thanking the community and the project for helping me help myself,” he ends with a smile.

CBO and coconut-based income-generating activity group success stories

“Towards a ‘worry-less’ community” Success story of the Kelompok Tani Kelapa Harapan Wori community-based organization, Wori, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

An Indonesian community, located 30 km away from Manado is living up to its name: “WORI”. Worries are etched on the faces of the people of the community of 1978 people. The coconut farmers in this area are poor earning an average per capita income of US$ 133 which is even lower than the average Indonesian farm- ers’ earning of US$ 200. The main prod- uct from the community’s 927 ha coconut plantation is copra which is currently get- ting very low price both in the international and local market. So even if some farmers The project billboard at the entrance of the Wori project site in practice intercropping and livestock pro- North Sulawesi, Indonesia duction, their incomes remain very low. With a meager per capita income parents worry about the future of their children. Manifes- tations of poverty are evident in the community ill-maintained shanties, malnourished chil- dren, and limited economic activity. People were resigned to this life until a project related to their main crop came along. The project was introduced to them through the Indonesian Center for Estate Crops Re- search and Development (ICECRD) in late 2002. Immediately, the project set into motion interrelated activities: a community-based organization was established, leaders were elected, groups were organized according to the members’ interest, projects were identified and evaluated, trainings were conducted and financial assistance in the form of microcredit 164 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

was provided to start the implementation of identified projects. Having been trained in organization and management, the mem- bers set their own guidelines and regulations in the managing their affairs. Self-gover- nance was encouraged even as a commu- nity coordinator supervised and guided the different activities particularly the micro credit system. Initially, a total of Rp 1.5M (US$ 176.50) was loaned out and in a short period, the amount increased to Rp 8M (US$ 942) showing the overwhelming interest of the members to pursue the different project One of the coconut seedling nurseries established and being activities such as intercropping, livestock managed by the CBO in Wori production, high-value product preparation, and nursery management. Three locally grown varieties had been identified by the farmers for further multiplica- tion and distribution. In addition, 1500 seedlings of potentially high yielding Mapanget Tall from ICOPRI had been distributed to CBO members. These improved cultivars are expected to increase the yield of coconut in the community in the future. Utilization of these varieties also ensures conservation of valuable genes. Other interventions such as intercrop- ping with peanut and banana and produc- tion of two high valued products, nata de coco and virgin coconut oil are expected to generate additional income. The potential increase in income from selling high value products alone is about US $20 per month for each member. The prospect for market- ing these products is bright since they had been exhibited in various occasions for pro- motional purposes. Slowly but surely the worries of the people of the Wori Coconut Community, also known as Kelompok Tani Kelapa Harapan A banana-coconut intercrop plot being managed by the Wori, are properly addressed. They may not intercropping group of Wori, one of several established under be able to totally eliminate the worries of ev- the project in the community eryday life but this time, they are more con- fident in facing them. They know that solutions will be at hand through their livelihood projects.

“A wealth of lessons and experiences” Sucess story of the Kelompok Tani Kelapa Huyula Desa Huntu community-based organization, Huntu-Batudaa, Gorontalo Province

Huntu, located 35 km away from Gorontalo, is home to the Huyula Coconut Community also known as Kelompok Tani Kelapa Huyula Desa Huntu. It has a population of 2213 with women comprising 50.38%. With an annual per capita income of US$ 125, the people of Huntu which include the coconut farmers are considered poor—a good candidate area for poverty reduction initiatives. It is therefore not surprising that the IPGRI/COGENT in close coordination with its national partner, the Indonesian Coconut and Other Palms Research Institute chose Huntu for its poverty reduction project. Since there was no existing commu- nity-based organization when the project was introduced in late 2002, the Huyula Coconut SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 165

Community was organized on 4 February 2003 in close coordination with the provincial as well as local gov- ernment at the village level. The community-based or- ganization (CBO) started with 105 members and by May 2004, its membership has increased to 136. This increase in membership was achieved amidst the luke- warm attitude of some of its members at the start of the project. The prevailing mood then was “wait and see” brought about their sad experience from other projects. That there was an addition to the original membership is an indication that “there is something” in this project. This change in attitude came about when trainings on livelihood projects were conducted and financial assistance to implement these projects was made available. There was no need to convince them further. Overcoming doubts is a success in itself. This prove to be a significant step. Far from being complacent, the members were trans- A Huntu CBO member grating coconut kernel formed into very active participants. Soon after its for- which would later be used to make coconut virgin mal organization, they elected their officers, planed and oil. The presser and grating machine shown implemented training programs on organization and here came from funds provided by the project management, micro-financing system, livelihood projects such as intercropping, livestock raising and feed formulation, high-value product preparation and nursery management. They also grouped themselves according to the live- lihood activity in order to enhance exchange of experience and knowledge and encourage each other. Encouragement is very important as experienced by a group consisting of twelve members who decide to venture into poultry raising. The first attempt of the group was disappointing because almost all the chickens were wiped out by a local disease infection called ‘tetelo”. In order to cut further losses, the remaining chickens were sold. From the sales, they bought another batch and tried to learn a new management system for poultry. The group did not buckle down and just learned from the lessons of their failure; instead, they tried to focus their energy in solving problems. They found strength and encourage- ment from other members of the community. At present the group is again raising 200 chickens with high hopes that this time they will have good profits. Other groups belonging to the community are pursuing their projects without signifi- cant problems. Thirty-nine CBO members are involved in intercropping trials. Selected in- tercrops like banana, peanut, and corn are currently cultivated to generate additional in- come. Virgin oil production is expected to increase each member’s income by US$ 20 per month. A total of 900 seedlings consist- ing of 300 Mapanget Talls and 600 Local Talls for the CBO-managed nursery had been planted in the community. These improved vari- eties will increase the yield of coco- nut in a few years’ time which will eventually redound to increased income of the coconut farmers. Each group has its own story to tell but the two most important les- sons learned by the community are—overcome doubts by concrete Peanut-coconut intercrop in Huntu. The root crop enjoys a high demand in steps and remain steadfast to your the local markets near the community goal. 166 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Training open farmers’ eyes to intercropping advantages” Success story of the coconut-based intercropping group, Kelompok Tani Kelapa Momosad, Nonapan 1, North Sulawesi, Indonesia (Winner of the ‘Best Global Group in Coconut-Based Intercropping’ award)

More often, farmers have a lukewarm attitude towards new farming prac- tices. That is no different in the Nonapan Community in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, where the pov- erty reduction project of IPGRI-CO- GENT was introduced in 2002. That is of course understandable. Many farmers, whether it is in Indo- nesia or elsewhere, have that culture of “wait-and-see.” They want to see some concrete results before they try to adopt new interventions. It did not take long for the Nonapan farmers, however, to ap- preciate the advantages of intercrop- The farmer-member of the Nonapan 1 intercropping group showing the ping various cash crops in coconut plot being managed by the group which is planted to banana, peanut, cacao and chili plantations after a series of lectures and seminars was conducted by the community-based organization which was formed to implement the IPGRI-COGENT project. The farmers, about 100 of them, have been earning a meager income from a monocul- ture of coconuts on landholdings of 0.5 to 2 hectares each. To facilitate availment of privi- leges from the CBO, the farmers were formed into groups with their respective officers. The lectures on the advantages as well as the techniques of intercropping have opened the eyes of the farmers to the benefits of diversified farming. The 100 farmers were divided into three subgroups, each subgroup member having been required to plant 43 bananas and 5 kilos of peanut under coconut trees. They were so enthusiastic that the members, instead of planting just 43 bananas, each planted more than 100. As of this writing, the banana trees are growing very well and are expected to produce additional income for the poor farmers. The second subgroup of 23 members planted pineapple, corn, pepper and cacao under their coconuts. The third group with 45 members planted cacao, corn, pepper and egg- plants. The planters have not fully reaped the benefits of intercropping as of this writing be- cause the harvests from the perennial crops still have to be harvested. But the signs are there. They are going to make more money as a result of intercropping. There was one setback, however. The first group who planted peanuts lost their crops to rats and wild pigs that devoured them. The experience was not totally useless, however, because the members have come up with their ingenious solutions to the problem. They have found that used engine oil can ward off the rats. On the other hand, by planting lemon grass around young coconut trees, wild boars are prevented from eating the coconut seed- lings. The members of the group are now convinced more than ever about the benefits of intercropping after seeing the model developed by the IPGRI-COGENT project. The model showed that income can be improved through diversified farming under coconut trees. One other significant impact of the project has been the development of a good sense of cooperation among group members in facing problems, solving such problems in meetings with officers and project implementors. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 167

Philippines success stories

Erlene C. Manohar Project Leader, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Individual farmer success stories

“Discovering the potential of goats” Success story of Mrs Soterania R Chavez, livestock production and management, Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Philippines (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based Livestock Production and Management’ award)

Coconut-based farmers have their own favorite sources of additional income aside from coconuts. In the case of Soterania R. Chavez of Cauayan, Negros Occidental in the Philip- pines, her first choice is goats. Chavez is a struggling lady farmer who is a member of the Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (B-PARB-MPC). Her family used to make a meager annual income of only Php 14 150 (US$ 257.27) which was way below the poverty thresh- old set by the National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA). Somehow, when the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project was launched in her barangay of Caliling in 2002 and introduced different income-generating activities, Chavez was one of the members of the cooperative who showed great interest and involved herself in trainings, seminars and other activities. And when the IPGRI-COGENT project started its goat dispersal program, Chavez was one of the first to avail herself of a loan to acquire one breeder goat. The idea appealed to her because even before the poverty reduction project was introduced in her barangay, she had started taking care of a couple of goats provided by a neighbor on a 50-50 sharing of the kids produced by the animals. Chavez planted forage and pasture crops between her coconut trees which she cut for feeding her goats. She also fed them with the leaves and other parts of her harvested crops such as corn, peanut and sweet potato. As of June 2004, Chavez had successfully raised 11 head, some of which were sold and a couple consumed by the family during a special occasion. She just retained five animals for breeding. She has already generated an additional income of Php 3700 (US$ 67.27) per year in goat raising, including the value of the two grown offspring consumed by the family. Of her several sources of income on the farm, Chavez says that goat raising is the most profitable for her. From June 2002 to June 2004, her two female goats had produced eight kids. Total expenses she had incurred since she started her goat project up to the middle of 2004 amounted to Php 3750 (US$ 68.18). On the other hand, her cash sales as well as the value of the animals consumed by the family and the remaining stock amount to Php 10 500 (US$ 190.90). Chavez is also taking advantage of other money-making activities introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT project. She qualified to avail herself of a loan for four hens and a rooster in mid-2004. She is now expecting to make money from this project, too. Meantime, she continues to plant rice and corn for home consumption. At the same time, she has also started to grow other crops such as vegetables, peanut and sweet potato both for home consumption as well as for sale. The IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project has opened new opportunities for Soterania R. Chavez. One of the most promising, of course, is goat raising. 168 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Husband and wife team up for additional income” Success story of Mr and Mrs Eduardo Magbanua, Sr., high-value coconut-based products production and integrated coconut farming, Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi- Purpose Cooperative, Cauayan, Negros Occidental

One way for coconut farmers to increase their income is for both the husband and wife to engage in different money-making projects. Just like the case of Eduardo Magbanua Sr. and his wife Nereza, both members of the Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (B-PARB-MPC) in Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Just like many other agrarian reform beneficiaries, the Magbanua couple used to have a meager income of only Php 3467 (US$ 63.04) per month or Php115 (US$ 2.09) per day which is way below the poverty line. Somehow, the launching of the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project in May 2002 in Caliling has provided new hope to the couple who have two young children. Thanks to the IPGRI-COGENT project, they have achieved additional incomes of Php 868.33 (US$ 15.79) per month in 2004. That is just the beginning. With the passing of time and as they expand their projects, they expect to make more money. And what are their new projects? When the IPGRI-COGENT project was launched, Mrs. Magbanua attended a training in coco shell processing in Cebu. The couple also at- tended a training on coco shell bag making offered by another non-government organiza- tion. And today, the couple are producing different coco shell products for sale such as pukalets, necklaces, bags and others. Being innovative, Eduardo has made his own designs of coco shell bags. These have been displayed in trade fairs in Negros as well as in Manila as part of their product promotion. The couple are also undertaking several other projects. Some have already become prof- itable but the others require more time to generate income. Like the nursery Eduardo has started to produce coconut and fruit tree seedlings and pasture crop planting materials. Other future income sources are new plantings of coconut, banana and forest trees. Vegetable production, however, is already giving the couple additional income. These include ampalaya, pole sitao, okra and eggplant. To minimize cost of producing his veg- etables, Magbanua uses mainly organic fertilizer and compost to nurture his plants. For the vegetable project, the Magbanua couple availed themselves of the loan from the CBO in the form of farm inputs. The loan has now been fully paid, thanks to their new sources of income. Meanwhile, Magbanua also gets a modest per diem as a member of the barangay or community council. Magbanua is also the vice chairman of the B-PARB-MPC and partici- pates in the projects of the CBO. For his participation, he also gets some compensation. Magbanua has become an inspiration to many other members of the CBO. He readily shares his know-how with other members who care to learn new money-making skills. He has become a trainor in coco shell processing, for instance.

“He diversified his sources of income” Success story of Mr Crisanto B Sergio, integrated coconut farming, Fleischer Estate Integrated Marketing Cooperative, Maitum, Sarangani, Philippines

Crisanto B. Sergio is an agrarian reform beneficiary who is cultivating 1.8 hectares sparsely planted to coconut and bananas in Maitum, Sarangani province in Mindanao, Philippines. Like most farmers in the community, he used to make a meager income of Php1968.89 (US$ 35.80) per month from his farm. Thanks however to the IPGRI-COGENT project on poverty reduction launched in his place in April 2003, his monthly farm income has in- creased to Php 2629.18 (US$ 47.80). The amount is still not enough to meet the needs of his household which consists of his wife and five of his seven children plus an adopted daugh- SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 169 ter. But he has augmented his net income by about Php 5100 (US$ 92.73) a month through non-farm sources. Mang Santos, as Crisanto is better known in Maitum, has significantly increased his monthly income by running a variety store and making charcoal out of coconut shell. He is also into coconut fiber production out of coconut husk. Now and then, two of his daughters who are working abroad would also remit certain amounts for use of the family. The family has an estimated per capita income of Php 14 137.78 (US$ 257.05) which is way above the poverty threshold level of Php 11 000 (US$ 200) set by the National Economic & Develop- ment Authority (NEDA). While the increase in his on-farm income is still modest, he expects to make much more when his new intercrops will become productive. He has, for instance, planted between the coconut trees such high-value fruit crops as durian, rambutan, mango, avocado, lanzones, jackfruit and calamansi. In just a few years, these will start bearing fruit and they could be his perennial money-makers. His new plantings of 50 selected coconut seedlings will further contribute to his income in the near future. By the way, Mang Santos is a member of the Fleischer Estate Integrated Marketing Co- operative (FEIMCO) which was established as a satellite service area of the COGENT project in April 2003. He has taken advantage of the trainings on various livelihood projects con- ducted by the project. He has also made use of the micro credit provided by the co-op to engage in raising ducks, swine and chickens. Poultry promises to be another source of in- come. Starting with just four chickens, the flock has increased to 30. These birds are giving Mang Santos eggs for sale as well as for home consumption.

“Housewife contributes to family income” Success story of Mrs Norma dela Rosa, Fleischer Estate Integrated Marketing Cooperative, Maitum, Sarangani, Philippines

Jimmy and Norma de la Rosa are agrarian reform beneficiaries in Maitum, Sarangani prov- ince in Southern Philippines. Like many other farmers cultivating 1.8 hectares planted mainly to coconuts, their income from their coconut trees could not meet even their basic needs. But their resourcefulness and initiatives have been keeping them way above the poverty threshold level of Php 11 000 (US$ 200) per capita income set by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). They now have a per capita income of Php 12600 (US$ 229.09) and expect that to increase as the fruits of their new initiatives materialize. As members of the Fleischer Estate Integrated Marketing Cooperative (FEIMCO) they have been attending trainings in various livelihood projects. FEIMCO is a beneficiary of the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project, having been made a satellite service area in April 2003. In the short span of the operation of the project in Maitum, trainings in twine making, intercropping, livestock and poultry production, and making various food products out of coconut have been conducted. Norma attended a seminar-workshop on making “bukayo” (a coconut candy) in Davao City. She liked the idea and has made bukayo production her little business. Today, she is making a net income of Php 775 (US$ 14.09) a month from her sales, a modest amount that could increase as she increases her production. Meanwhile, Jimmy has also attended trainings in nursery management, intercropping, and livestock and poultry production. He helped establish the community’s coconut nursery and has planted an additional 69 coconut seedlings in his own farm. Jimmy is now growing more intercrops like calamansi, banana, peanut and string beans. Today, he makes a net monthly income of Php1300 (US$ 23.64) from calamansi and banana. And from string beans and peanut, he makes a net profit of about Php 2765 (US$ 50.27) per cropping. Pretty soon, Jimmy expects to make money from his animal projects, too. He is one of the beneficiaries of the goat dispersal program of the IPGRI-COGENT project. He received three breeder goats which he will pay back with kids once they give birth. Or he could pay back 170 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III with cash if he desires to keep the kids for himself. Jimmy also takes care of a carabao, cattle, swine and native chickens. All these money-making activities, thanks to the interventions introduced by the IPGRI- COGENT project, will result in a more progressive future for the couple and their two children.

“Determination pays off” Success story of Mr Dioscoro Sabac, production of high-value coconut-based products, leischer Estate Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Maitum, Sarangani, Philippines

Dioscoro Sabac is an agrarian reform beneficiary tilling 1.8 hectares in Maitum, Sarangani province. His main crop is coconuts. In certain portions, in between young coconut trees, he plants corn and vegetables. Like many other agrarian reform beneficiaries belonging to the Fleischer Estate Inte- grated Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FEIMCO), however, the income he derives from his farm is not enough to meet the needs of his family consisting of his wife and six children. Espe- cially when Mother Nature does not cooperate. Like when his maturing crops of corn and vegetables were washed away by a flash flood in 2001. To supplement what he makes on the farm, he works during certain days as laborer in other landowners’ farms, earning a meager Php80 a day. The turning point in his life happened when FEIMCO was adopted as a satellite service area of the PRCGC project of IPGRI-COGENT. It all started in April 2003 when the decorti- cating and coir twining machines provided by the project were installed in Maitum. As part of the deal, experts provided by IPGRI-COGENT trained members of the cooperative on the proper use of the decorticating and twining machines. One of the trainees was Dioscoro Sabac, fondly called Nonoy by friends. He showed special interest in the twining machine. He took the front seat while Engr. Carlos de la Cruz, the expert provided by IPGRI-COGENT, demonstrated how to operate it. Everyday, for one whole month after the initial training, Nonoy would go to the co-op to practice operating the twining as well as the decorticating machine. He also did his best to learn how to make doormats and geotextiles. Nonoy’s unusual determination to learn the skills in coconut fiber processing is paying off. He is now recognized as the expert and is often asked to train people who would like to learn the skills, such as members of other agrarian reform communities. The hands-on train- ing lasts for three days and Nonoy gets an honorarium of Php 450 (US$ 8.18) for each batch. So far, he has trained 69 people from such places as Malapatan in Sarangani province, Barrio Cebuano in South Cotabato, Toril in Davao City and Malita in Davao del Sur. Nonoy does not have to be a farm laborer in others’ farms anymore. Today, he could make five doormats a day for which the co-op pays him Php 125 (US$ 2.27). Or he could produce six kilos of single twine which the co-op buys at Php 40 (US$ 0.73) per kilo. At other times, he could be collaborating with another worker to produce 20 meters of geotextile a day for the co-op. He is paid Php 150 (US$ 2.73) for his labor. Of course, Nonoy is much happier these days. His morale is high and does not have to borrow money anymore for his family’s simple needs.

“Lady farmer discovers potential of coco sugar” Success story of Mrs Luisa Y Molo, coconut sugar production and marketing, Linabu Coconut Farmers Association, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based High-Value Products Production’ award)

A lady farmer in Mindanao has discovered the profit potential of making sugar out of coco- nut toddy and is pursuing it as a business with the possibility of making it a dollar earner, too. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 171

The lady farmer is 40-year-old Luisa Y. Molo, a member of the Linabu Coconut Farmers Association (LCPA) in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. It all started when she attended a training in 2003 on coconut sugar making conducted by experts provided by a three-year research project funded by the Asian Development Bank. After attending the seminar and some experimentation of her own, Mrs. Molo was able to perfect her granulated coconut sugar. The coconut sugar is considered organic and is sought after by health buffs. Mrs. Molo displayed her product in one agri fair in Mindanao and then in a trade fair in Manila in early 2004. In both fairs, her product sold like the proverbial hotcake for Php 100 (US$ 1.82) per kilo. That’s about three times more expensive than the ordinary sugar. Since then a spa resort in Lipa City has been regularly buying her coconut sugar. In addition, a Korean trader who saw her product at the trade fair in Manila has offered to buy all the coconut sugar she could produce for export to Korea. She is thus increasing her volume of production. Besides her own coconut sap production, she has encouraged other farmers in her locality to collect toddy from their own coconut trees for her use. That way, she could produce a big volume for the Korean buyer. Using her own sap collection, Mrs. Molo could only produce 17 kilos of sugar a month worth Php 1700 (US$ 31). By the way, the LCPA to which Mrs. Molo belongs is one of the organizations in the Philippines being helped through the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities project initiated by IPGRI-COGENT in 2002 in collabo- ration with the Philippine Coconut Authority. Aside from teaching the farmers how to make coconut sugar, experts provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project also teach members of the community-based orga- nizations (CBO) how to manage their co- operative, how to make high-value prod- ucts out of coconut such as virgin coco- nut oil, coconut candies, shellcraft, coco coir products and others. The farmers are also taught improved techniques of inter- cropping and in raising farm animals and Mrs Luisa Y Molo of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Philippines with her prized coconut sugar fish.

“Intercropping more than doubled his income” Success story of Mr Diomedes Potestades, coconut-based intercropping, Mapalad Integrated Livelihood Cooperative, Real, Quezon Province, Philippines (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Project Participant in Coconut-Based Intercropping’ award)

Coconut farmers can increase their incomes in several ways. In the case of Diomedes Potestades of Malapad, Real, Quezon in the Philippines, growing high-value intercrops in his two-hectare coconut farm is the way. Before 2002, he used to make a monthly income of only Php 3000 (US$ 54.55) from his coconut and bananas which was not enough to meet the basic needs of his household with a total of nine members. Today, Diomedes makes an average of Php 8000 (US$ 145.45) a month, thanks to the Poverty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities (PRCGC) project which was launched in Real in 2002 through the Mapalad Integrated Livelihood Cooperative by IPGRI-COGENT and funded by the Asian Development Bank. 172 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

With the collaboration of the Philippine Coconut Authority, the project aimed to vali- date the thinking that with the right interventions, poor coconut farmers will be able to earn more income and they don’t have to remain poor. The project provided seed money to the MILCO for lending to the farmers as well as for conducting trainings in various income- generating activities in the coconut growing community. One of the strategies recommended by the project is the planting of high-value inter- crops wherever it is possible between the coconut trees. And that’s what Diomedes mainly pursued as a member of MILCO. He initially borrowed Php 6159 (US$ 112) from the MILCO to finance his new projects. He planted more bananas, pineaple, watermelon, ginger and different kinds of vegetables in his two-hectare farm. The vegetables include eggplant, squash, cucumber, bitter gourd, sweet potato, string beans, tomatoes and other favorites. In one cropping of some crops, he could make a net profit of Php 12 028 (US$ 218.69). Besides crops, Diomedes also raises free range native chickens which also give him eggs and meat to sell as well as for home consumption. Although he started his poultry project with just 20 birds, he made a net profit of Php 2000 (US$ 36.36) in one year from this project. His intercrops, however, are his biggest money makers. In fact, he was adjudged the best farmer in intercropping among communities in the Philippines participating in the poverty reduction project of IPGRI-COGENT. That also gave him an added income because the award carried a cash prize.

CBO and coconut-based income-generating activity group success stories

“Breathing new life to a dying cooperative” Success story of the Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries’ Multipurpose Cooperative (B- PARB-MPC), Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Philippines

It is not unusual to see moribund cooperatives in the Philippines due to mismanagement, lack of leadership and many other reasons. The Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative (B-PARB-MPC) in Cauayan, Negros Occidental in the Philip- pines is one of them. Organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform in 1992, the co-op had 124 as regis- tered members. As of the year 2002, however, only 22 of them were active. Many of them have lost interest and trust in the CBO due to their bad experiences from the staff of their previous partner NGO. Most of them had become inactive with loans unpaid. When the PCA-IPGRI/COGENT poverty reduction project was launched on May 14, 2002, things began to change for the better. Members started to develop interest and trust in the CBO because of the different approaches introduced. CBO strengthening and capacity- building seminars were conducted and attended by the members and officers. Today, 45 members including five new ones, are engaged in different money-making activities introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT project. Gradually, the members are updating their outstanding loans. Some, in fact, have fully paid their arrears. The CBO, thanks to the revolving fund and trainings provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project, is supporting the members in the production of vegetables, native chicken, vinegar, makapuno planting, coco food processing, nursery operation and goat dispersal. It is also engaged in operating a tricycle service to provide much needed transportation in the com- munity. IPGRI-COGENT and the CBO are making available the necessary inputs for intercrops and livestock production payable upon harvest of the crops at a rate and payment scheme duly agreed upon by the members. For instance, the interest rate for intercrops is 10%. In livestock, they pay two head per breeder animal loaned to them. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 173

Production of high-value products such as coco food processing, vinegar production and coco shell processing are directly managed by the CBO through the project-in-charge assigned in every project. A profit-sharing arrangement is in place in coco food processing and vinegar production. The farmers’ share serve as payment for their labor while the share of the CBO is added to its capital fund. The CBO markets the products locally as well as outside the province. It has been partici- pating in trade shows such as during fiesta celebrations and observance of Coconut Week by the Philippine Coconut Authority. It also participates in trade fairs conducted by the Department of Land Reform. The products of the members are also displayed in some stra- tegic centers as a marketing strategy. In just over a year, B-PARB-MPC has achieved substantial success in its income-generat- ing projects and other activities. It has created livelihood opportunities and jobs for its mem- bers. Most important is that the IPGRI-COGENT project has breathed new life to a dying cooperative.

“Women group themselves to make coco food products” Success story of the high-value coconut food products group, Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Cauayan, Negros Occidental

Women in coconut-growing communities who are otherwise idle most of the time can be- come productive given the right training and access to capital, no matter how modest. Just like the case of 10 women in Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental in Central Phil- ippines who grouped themselves under the guidance of their community-based organiza- tion (CBO) and embarked on the production of coconut food products that they could sell right in the community and beyond. Thanks to the launching of the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduction project in Caliling, the usually idle womenfolk were given trainings in various livelihood activities. Since they did not have the capital to start on their own, they made a joint venture agreement with the CBO - the Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The CBO provided the initial ingredients for the initial production as well as the equip- ment and utensils used in making various coconut food products. The CBO also assists in marketing their products. The group is now producing boat tarts, macaroons, bocayo, buko pie, buko juice and native bukayo. These are sold in schools, local stores, canteens and offices. These are also catered to special occasions such as birthday celebrations, graduation parties and the like. Initial results of the food processing project which started in December 2003 are encour- aging. The women who work in preparing the food products divide among themselves 70 percent of the profit while the 30 percent goes to the CBO to augment the funds for the project. In the first seven months of operation, the women members have each received Php 30 to Php80 (US$ 0.55 - US$ 1.45) per day of working. That’s a very modest amount but then that’s just the beginning. As the business expands, the women members can expect bigger incomes. What is more important is that they have found an opportunity to make additional income for their families which used to depend solely on the copra and fresh coconuts they sold at a low price. The group and their CBO are already planning to sell their products outside of Cauayan through product promotions. In fact, they have already participated in exhibits and trade fairs like the Lubay-Lubay sa Cauayan Festival 2004, Panaad sa Negros Festival 2003, the PCA Coco Week Celebrations, and the Agraryo Trade Fair 2004, both local and national. The women members are upbeat in their outlook and they are optimistic they could sell more of their food products. 174 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“A modest intervention goes a long way” Success story of the Fleischer Estate Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FEIMCO), Maitum, Sarangani, Philippines

The Fleischer Estate Integrated Multi-Purpose Cooperative (FEIMCO) is a typical coopera- tive of small scale farmers in the Philippines. Since its establishment in 1989 with 41 mem- bers, it has experienced an acute lack of leadership. It was most of the time mismanaged and membership remained very low. Today, however, FEIMCO is a very vibrant cooperative, thanks to the leadership of Mr. Aniceto Hibanada who was voted chairman of the co-op after another case of mismanage- ment was committed by the previous chairman. From a membership of 104 when Hibanada took over as chairman in 2002, the co-op now has a total of 357 full-fledged members plus 253 associate members. Considered a significant milestone in the history of FEIMCO is its inclusion in the “Pov- erty Reduction in Coconut Growing Communities” project of IPGRI-COGENT. Actually, FEIMCO which is based in an agrarian reform community in Maitum, Sarangani province in Mindanao, is just a satellite service area of the ADB-funded poverty reduction project. It became one when IPGRI-COGENT provided it with a decorticating machine and three twining equipment. Aside from providing the equipment, the PRCGC project also provided training on the use of the machines. The first three-day training was conducted in April 2003 after the machines were installed in the project site. A total of 63 members of the co-op participated in the training together with PCA field personnel, coordinators and members of CBOs of other project sites. The training module covered the operation and maintenance of the ma- chines, the twining process up to the weaving of bionets/geotextiles, and doormat making. It did not take long for the men and women members to acquire the skill of making twines, doormats and other products. Now, a farmer can produce three kilos of single twine a day which the co-op buys at Php 40 (US$ 0.73) per kilo. Those who are engaged in door- mat making can finish six pieces in one day worth Php150 (US$ 2.73). The CBO makes money by producing the geotextiles using the twines it buys from the members. For every kilo of geotextile that it manufactures, it makes a net profit of Php 8.04 (US$ 0.15). The CBO also manages the production of double twines and from each kilo, it makes a mark-up of Php 6.24 (US$ 0.11). Business has been good for FEIMCO. In fact, it got a big order for geotextiles for use in an erosion control project funded by the ADB in Samar. The doormats and other items pro- duced by the members have been selling well in trade fairs in Koronadal City as well as in Manila. What is significant is that with the installation of the decorticating and twining ma- chines, the coconut husks which used to be just left to rot or thrown away are now made into valuable items. Equally important is the generation of jobs for the men and women in the community. FEIMCO, through the processing of high-value products, improved its financial resources and has now become a vibrant organization with a high membership. The co-op does not only benefit its members. It has been tapped as the training center for coconut coir process- ing for other agrarian reform communities. Four ARC cooperatives have so far undergone training, namely those from Malapatan, Sarangani; Barrio Cebuano, South Cotabato; Tungkalan in Toril, Davao City; and Malita, Davao del Sur. “Interventions go a long way in creating opportunities” Success story of the Linabu Coconut Planters Association (LCPA), Barangay Linabu, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Interventions such as those introduced by the IPGRI-COGENT project have gone a long way in creating new livelihood opportunities for members of the Linabu Coconut Planters Association (LCPA) of Brgy. Linabu, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 175

LCPA started as a very small organization in 1996 with just 17 members mostly depend- ing on coconuts and intercrops of corn and some minor crops. On the average, the farmers made an average net income of Php 6000 (US$ 109.09) per hectare a year. Today, the membership of the association has increased tremendously and the farm families are deriving income from at least six areas of activity. These include a community- managed nursery, coco candy production, coco shellcraft, intercropping with more number of crops, and coconut sugar making. Coconut sugar making promises to be a project with export potential. One member, Mrs. Luisa Y. Molo, learned late in 2003 how to make coconut sugar from a trainor provided by the IPGRI-COGENT project. She immediately recognized the potential of the technology and through further experimentation, she was able to produce granulated coconut sugar by December of that year and pursued it as a business. When she exhibited her product in a trade fair in Manila, it sold like the proverbial hotcake for Php 100 (US$ 1.82) per kilo. Since then, a spa resort in Lipa City has been regularly ordering her product. A Korean trader, on the other hand, had offered to buy all the coconut sugar Mrs. Molo could produce for export to Korea. That’s why she is increas- ing her volume and has encouraged her townmates to collect coconut sap for her use. She has thus opened a new money-making opportunity for other farmers in the community. The community-managed nursery has also created jobs for 15 of its members and is making profits from the sale of planting materials. The nursery propagates superior varieties of coconut, fruit trees, hardwood and bamboo. More important, good quality planting ma- terials are made available to farmers through the nursery. Members of LCPA enjoy the added benefit of paying just half of the prevailing price for seedlings they buy. Farmers in Balingasag also learn improved techniques of intercropping as well as live- stock and poultry raising. The IPGRI-COGENT project, aside from holding seminars, has conducted a field day to showcase high-value products from coconuts. The financial status of the LCPA has tremendously improved since the interventions made by the IPGRI-COGENT project. At the start of the research project in 2002, the asso- ciation had a modest asset of Php150 000 (US$ 2727.27) consisting of a 1000 square meter lot, a mini sawmill and mortgaged coconut trees. By 2004, the assets had increased to Php 550 339.92 (US$ 10 006). The association has become much more financially stable and can now pursue even more profitable undertakings.

“There’s money in nursery” Success story of the coconut seedling nursery group, Linabu Coconut Planters’ Association, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Philippines (Winner of the ‘Best Global Coconut Nursery Management Group’ award

A plant nursery can be a profitable project for a community-based organization to under- take in a coconut growing community. This has been proven by the Linabu Coconut Planters Association (LCPA) of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental in the Philippines. Starting the project in April 2002 on a 1.5-hectare area, the nursery has generated profit that has helped finance other undertakings of the associa- tion. For instance, it has contributed a total of Php 38 849 (US$ 706.35) to the construction of a coco shell/mini sawmill buiding, capitalization for the production of coco sugar and coco candies, and for the purchase of supplies. Not only that, the members greatly benefited from the availability of superior planting materials which were sold to them at half the prevailing price. The nursery produces coconut seedlings as well as planting materials of fruit trees and hardwood species. The nursery has so far produced 16 524 of high-yielding synthetic variet- 176 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III ies and some exotic coconut varieties that include the aromatic, Polipog and MRD x MakT. Producing coconut seedlings is profitable. For instance, it can make a profit of Php 18 000 (US$ 327.27) from just 3000 seedlings of MRD x MakT. The nursery has also been producing planting materials of durian, rambutan, mango, chestnut and pummelo. All these are high-value fruits that could be grown together with the coconuts, and these could augment the farmers’ income. Most of the fruit tree planting materials are not yet ready for sale but as they are ready for release, these could significantly augment the income of the association. So far, the nursery has also produced more than 7000 planting materials of hardwood and bamboo. Like the coconut and fruit tree seedlings, the hardwood and bamboo planting materials are sold not only to members but also to non-members of LCPA. Some are sold to buyers from other communities and towns. Fifteen members of LCPA, including five women, work in the community-managed nursery. They have been trained by experts provided by the IPGRI-COGENT poverty reduc- tion project in coconut growing communities. As the workers become more proficient, they could produce more planting materials. And as more customers from the community as well from outside avail themselves of the superior planting materials, the LCPA could expect more profits from the nursery. In the long term, the nursery could become a major profit center. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 177

Vietnam success stories

Vo Van Long1 and Nguyen Thi Le Thuy2 1Project Leader and 2Project Facilitator, Oil Plants Institute of Vietnam (OPI), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Individual farmer success stories

“Meet Mr. Do, the Doer” Success story of Mr Do Thanh Thuong, integrated coconut farming, Hung Phong Coconut Community, Hung Phong Commune, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Coconut Farmer’ award)

Meet Mr. Do Thanh Thuong of Hung Phong Island in the Mekong Delta in Viet- nam. At 67, he is easily the most successful diversified coconut farmer in his commune. Consider the many things he has been do- ing since the IPGRI-COGENT poverty re- duction project was launched in Hung Phong in 2002. He has been showing that with the three-pronged strategy espoused by the IPGRI-COGENT project, coconut farmers could increase their incomes four to six times. One of his projects is the establishment The Doer, Mr Do Thanh Thuong, showing his honeybees which of a coconut seedling nursery right in his he raises in his integrated coconut farm. The honey which he collects from the bees he makes into wine, one of the many farm where he also lives. In the short span activities he has incorporated in his farm of the implementation of the IPGRI-CO- GENT project, he has germinated more than 3000 seednuts of selected high-yielding indig- enous varieties as well as superior high-value varieties such as the aromatic coconut. He has already sold more than 2000 of his seedlings to fellow members of his CBO as well as to members of other CBOs. His nursery project has substantially increased his farm income. The beauty about a nursery is that it does not require a big area. The seedlings can be sold within a short time and there is a big demand for planting materials. As a national program, the government plans to plant 300 000 hectares to coconuts in the next six years, so there is a big market for superior seedlings. Recognizing the big potential of the aromatic coconut which commands a much higher price than the ordinary variety, he has planted more than 60 seedlings of this variety. He replaced his old as well as other low-yielding palms with aromatic coconut and some other hybrids. Mr. Do has designed a model for coconut-based farming system so as to have more diversified sources of income. For instance, he has spaced his coconut trees farther apart so he could grow other things in between. In between the coconuts, he has planted pummelo, lemon and other citrus. These are high-value crops that give him income throughout the year. In addition, he has integrated beekeeping to help pollinate his fruit trees and as a source of honey for home consumption or for sale. In some portions, he has constructed canals where he raises fish and freshwater shrimp. The canals are also the source of water for irrigating his plants. To save on fertilizer, he raises native chickens and uses their manure as fertilizer for his plants as well as his fish ponds. He has also formulated his own fish feed, also to cut feed cost. In addition, he has fabricated his own irrigation equipment which is affordable and 178 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III economical on fuel. The other members of the CBO have adopted his system. Mrs. Do is also contributing to the income of the family. She gathers coconut midribs which she makes into baskets and brooms which are saleable in the commune. The produc- tion of virgin coconut oil is one other project that will soon be added to the activities of Mr. & Mrs. Do. The farm of Mr. Do is becoming well known and is the destination of many visitors. It will not be surprising it will eventually develop into a model for “coco tourism.”

“Lady shows her mettle as microcredit manager” Success story of Mrs Dang Thi Be, village-level microcredit and revolving fund system management, Hung Phong Coconut Community, Hung Phong Commune, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam (Winner of the country-level ‘Best CBO Leader and Microcredit Manager’ award)

When the COGENT project on pov- erty reduction was launched in 2002 in Hung Phong, a small island in Ham Luong River in Vietnam, members of the community-based organization (CBO) voted Mrs. Dang Thi Be as the CBO coordina- tor. She was hesitant to accept the position at first because she was not sure if she could do the job. She was not particularly sure if she could maintain and keep the microcredit funds intact because they are loaned to the members without in- Mrs Dang Thi Be receiving a special award from OPI Director Mr. Nguyen Trung Phong in recognition for her outstanding contribution to the Hung terest and without collateral. Phong CBO as the community’s microcredit manager Of course, that was a big chal- lenge that she had to accept. Today, the US$ 4000 loaned by IPGRI-COGENT to the CBO for lending to members is completely intact. It has been rolled over three times as of the middle of 2004 and has enabled the borrowers to increase their incomes from their projects two to three times. The fact is, the loan fund available to the CBO members has increased. Because the lending program has been very successful, another group called Women Union has offered an additional fund of US$ 2500 for lending to CBO members at a low interest rate, also without collateral. How did Mrs. Dang Thi Be keep the loan fund intact and continually rolling over? Her secret is keeping close watch over the borrowers and their money-making projects. Before approving the application of a borrower, she has to check his or her living condition and determine his or her true intent. She determines the constraints of the prospective borrower, if any, and tries to recommend possible solutions. She then determines the appropriate amount of the loan and how long it will be repaid. She divided the borrowers into four main groups and each group is headed by some- body who is responsible for overseeing his members. She prepares a list of priority CBO borrowers and then consults the members of the CBO board for their comments or sugges- tions. She also seeks the advice of the local government as well as other organizations such as women’s associations and other farmers’ groups. In addition, she usually organizes meet- ings with CBO board members, local government officials and COGENT staff to discuss various ways of enhancing the project. As a general rule, the borrowers receive their loans in kind. For example, members of the livestock group may receive piglets, shrimp larvae or fish fingerlings. Those in the intercrop- SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 179 ping group may receive their loans in the form of coconut or fruit tree seedlings while those in coconut product processing may receive theirs in the form of machines and equipment. Loans are paid back either in six months, nine months or 12 months, depending on the kind of the project financed. So far, the microcredit program in Hung Phong has been working extremely well. And because of this, it has attracted more external assistance to come in. For instance, the Central Extension Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development gave a grant in the form of 25 tons of various fertilizers to put up more coconut-based farming system models. Much of the success, of course, can be credited to a dedicated lady by the name of Dang Thi Be.

“Integrated farming doubled his income” Success story of Mr Dang Thanh Phong, integrated coconut farming, Hung Phong Coconut Community, Hung Phong Commune, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam

Dang Thanh Phong is a 29-year-old member of the Hung Phong community-based organi- zation (CBO) who more than doubled his income from his 0.6-hectare coconut farm in a matter of just over two years through integrated farming. Before the IPGRI-COGENT project was implemented in his community, Phong’s farm was like many other coconut farms in Hung Phong - planted to a high density of 180 coco- nut trees per hectare. After participating in trainings on coconut farming given by experts, he cut down some of the trees so that only 120 trees were left per hectare. Phong was pleasantly surprised by the results. The remaining trees which had enjoyed more space yielded an average of 100 nuts each. That was 40 more nuts per tree over the previous yield when the plant population was very high. The wider spacing of the coconut trees also enabled Phong to plant high-value crops between the trees. These included pummelo, lemon, dragon fruit and others. Actually, Phong said, intercropping between coconut trees is not new to people in the community. However, it was not properly done because of the lack of the right technology. He stressed that as important as microcredit assistance is the imparting of the right farming practices. He is very thankful to the staff of the Oil Plant Institute of Vietnam who went to his farm and taught him how to apply fertilizer the right way. From his monocrop of coconut before the IPGRI-COGENT project was implemented in his community, Phong used to make just VND 18M to VN 20M (US$ 1200 to US$ 1333) a year from his farm. By the middle of the year 2004, however, he was already making VND 45M (US$ 3000) from the same farm. When his intercrops of pummelo, lemon and dragon fruit will be in full production, he expects to make a much higher income. As a result of his increased income, Phong has recently bought a 0.2-hectare farmlot which he intends to plant to coconut and high-value intercrops. Phong also recognizes the advantage of planting selected seedlings from high-yielding trees from his own farm. He has replaced some of his poor-performing trees with them. Phong has another project that is also boosting his farm income. He is raising 12 pigs for meat and biogas. He has installed a low-cost biogas system behind house which provides him methane gas for cooking the family’s meals. The biogas unit also provides him a cheap source of organic fertilizer, using the slurry to fertilize his plants. Phong believes in the sustainability of integrated farming. The coconut trees may pro- duce less income than the intercrops but he says he will always maintain them in his farm. 180 POVERTY REDUCTION IN COCONUT GROWING COMMUNITIES VOLUME III

“Creative lady marketer creates jobs for other people” Success story of Mrs Nguyen Thi Nhe, production and marketing of high-value coconut-based products, Hung Phong Coconut Community, Hung Phong Commune, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam (Winner of the country-level ‘Best Individual Participant in High-Value Coconut Products Production’ award)

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhe is a 38-year- old lady member of the Hung Phong CBO who is not into farming but into marketing. Just the same, she is playing an important role in im- proving the livelihood of other resi- dents in her coconut-growing com- munity. Before the IPGRI-COGENT pov- erty reduction project was intro- duced in Hung Phong, Nguyen Thi Nhe had an erratic business of mar- keting baskets made of coconut midribs which she sold to end-buy- ers locally. She usually sold a lot Mrs Nguyen Thi Nhe in front of her display-cum-sales center for her various during festivals but very few dur- coconut shell-based high-value products. Because of microcredit extended ing the rest of the year. to her by the project, she was able to expand her business and employ a She used to source her merchan- number of her co-community members dise from different families. The problem was that the workmanship was not uniform and the quality varied. That’s one reason why she could not sell to regular buyers in big volume. Naturally, her annual income was low and unstable. The launching of the COGENT project in 2002 turned the fortune of Mrs. Nhe for the better. The project linked her to exporters and provided her with new and more marketable designs. She herself made her designs of new products which she introduced to big buyers. She got a lot of orders for her new products which created new jobs for farmers and other residents in the community. At present she sells an average of 10 000 units of midrib baskets and 1000 units of coco- nut shell handicrafts every month in the domestic market. This has created new money- making opportunities for the households in the community. Many of the CBO members today make an income of $1 to $2 per person per day. This is considered a high income in Hung Phong. With the help of COGENT, Mrs. Nhe has organized a network of CBO members to process the coconut shell for making into high-value products. She assigns members to do certain jobs in their own homes based on their ability and health. For instance, one group cuts the shell into required shapes and sizes which they sell to her by the weight. The second group polishes the cut up shell from the first group and they are paid by the piece. The third group, on the other hand, connects the pieces together into the final product shape. Then the fourth group decorates to complete the final product. The first three stages are done by CBO members in their homes while the fourth stage is completed by Mrs. Nhe’s family and her seven permanent workers. This way, she can con- trol the quality of her final product. With the uniform high quality of her products, she has achieved a big demand for her products in the domestic market. Exporters can also source their supplies from her since her products are of export quality. Specialization on the part of the satellite workers, on the other hand, makes them highly efficient in their assigned tasks. They are happy for the income they receive and so is Mrs. Nhe who is assured of her supply of semi-processed materials. On the whole, Mrs. Nhe has developed a big demand for her products. And in the pro- cess, she has created a source of livelihood for other members of the Hung Phong CBO. SECTION 3: Project Success Stories 181

“This rope-making machine is my friend” Success story of Ms Dao Thi Kim Cuc and Mrs Trung Thi Huong, coconut fibre-based rope making, Tam Quan Nam Commune, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam

Mrs. Truong Thi Huong wakes up everyday at the crack of dawn, prepares breakfast for her daughter, feeds the chick- ens and then bicycles about a kilometer to the beach. She goes there not for a swim but to collect coconut fibre that she and her daughter would use to spin into ropes and later sell - their main source of liveli- hood. "It's quite difficult," says the 72-year old, "but I consider it as exercise, and it's definitely a lot better than what we had (Above) Cuc and mother Huong happily helping each to do before the project came other produce single-ply coco fibre ropes using the here to earn our keep." simple fibre-weaving machinery provided to them by Huong and her 43-year old the project. (Right) Cuc demonstrating how she made ropes before the equipment came daughter Dao Thi Kim Cuc lives in Tam Quan Nam, Bin Dinh Province in Central Vietnam, a coastal area well known for co- conut production and, ironically, for the poverty prevailing among its coconut farmers. During the Vietnam War in 1962, Mrs. Huong lost her husband, and Cuc lost her sight on both eyes- she was only seven back then. "When I became blind I had to stop schooling," Cuc reminisces, "I wanted so much to help my mother, but because I could not see, I felt useless and a burden to her. Because of my condition, I did not have friends." Despite being sightless, Cuc eventually learned from her mother how to spin fibre into rope, manually. This entailed tying one end of the spun fiber onto one of her toes, and slowly twisting length after length of rope by hand. "It was a frustratingly slow and tedious work," she explains. But not as tedious as when extracting the fibre: they had to soak the husk in water for a few days and then beat them with a heavy stick, hammer or even stones. The fibre produced was of low quality and inadequate; and the work was back breaking. Even if both worked 7-8 hours a day, they could only make VND 4000 (US$ 0.26) worth of ropes. Things took a turn for the better in 2002 when Tam Quan Nam was chosen as a pilot site for IPGRI-COGENT's ‘Poverty reduction in coconut growing communities’ project in Viet- nam. Mother and daughter joined the CBO and trained in producing ropes using the simple equipment that the project provided, which, they were told, would more than double their current manual production capacity. But something bothered Huong and Cuc, "If we were to produce more rope using these equipment, would that also mean that we would also have to manually beat more husks?" Mr. Huynh Minh Ngoc, the CBO leader, assured them that this would not be as village-level beating and decorticating machines would also be put in the community. And introduce these machineries the project did. With funds from the project and other local counterpart sources, the CBO built a simple shed by the sea to house the beating and decorticating machines capable of churning out 600 kg of fibre per day, or the equivalent of 600 pair of hands manually beating husks. An initial 50 units of simple rope-making equip- ment were distributed to 50 identified households in the community as in-kind loans pay- able to the CBO's microcredit system. "We initially identified priority households - the poor-