Participatory approach to empowering farmers’ organizations

In a presentation to the Policy Dialogue, Ms. Mag T. Catindig, Program Officer, Asian Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Asia (AsiaDHRRA) Philippines, explained the DHRRA approach to empowering farmers’ organizations that is implemented in partnership with 11 DHRRA members and other civil society organizations in 11 Asian countries.

DHRRA follows the “mushawarah”, meaning “I” and “We” as a community, approach to farmer empowerment. This requires working at the grassroots level to better understand local needs and find appropriate solutions to farmers’ problems. 

Ms. Catindig also informed the Dialogue about good practices in empowering farmers based on the group development model, such as farmers-to-farmers (F2F), farmers’ organization-to-farmers’ organization (FO-FO) and participatory technology development. The F2F and FO-FO offer farmers an effective channel for expressing their needs. Such a participatory approach helps increase the outreach of agricultural extension.

Reporter:  Ratri Virianita – Bogor Agricultural University (ratri_virianita@yahoo.com)