MAKATI CITY, Philippines — The delegates from the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and the Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC) convened for the India-Philippines Stakeholders Meeting on Agricultural Cooperatives, with cooperatives, government agencies, and organizations present. The meeting aimed to establish a collaborative framework for cooperatives to thrive through shared knowledge, enhanced financing models, and direct market access between the two nations.
The primary objective is to strengthen cooperative governance and services, market access and value chain development, cooperative financing services and knowledge exchange between cooperatives.
The India-Philippines Stakeholder Meeting on Agricultural Cooperatives resulted in a commitment to pursue actionable partnerships and joint initiatives, including the establishment of cooperative-to-cooperative trade platforms and pilot projects in sectors like dairy, rice, and fisheries. Through South-South cooperation, both nations aim to leverage complementary strengths, specifically India’s large-scale structures and the Philippines’ community-based resilience models, to address rising production costs and market volatility.
A significant output involves the exchange of modern innovations, such as Indian nano-fertilizers and agricultural drones, alongside the implementation of AI-driven market intelligence and Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) for crop forecasting. To sustain these efforts, NEDAC will serve as the primary platform for capacity building, leadership training, and the adoption of successful operational models like India’s Amul and the Unnati Cooperative. Stakeholders also prioritized institutional reforms, including strategies for cooperative consolidation to achieve economies of scale and expanding financial inclusion through AI-powered credit systems.
Additionally, the CDA outlined strategic targets to achieve a 20% increase in productivity and a 10% increase in long-term sustainability by 2028. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to pursue actionable partnerships, technology exchange, and collaborative initiatives, particularly in areas such as digitalization, financing, and market linkage development.
Following the stakeholder dialogue, the bilateral meeting between NEDAC and the CDA established a strategic roadmap focused on institutional revitalization and regional leadership.
Digitalization and technical modernization emerged as central themes for future collaboration. The CDA expressed significant interest in adopting India’s advanced digital infrastructure, specifically the computerized system for Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS), which enables core banking, online registration, and efficient “one-button” digital audits.
To ensure these technologies are effectively managed, the delegates outlined a comprehensive approach to capacity building and knowledge sharing. NEDAC will serve as the primary bridge for sending Philippine cooperative leaders to specialized institutions in India for training in professional governance and cooperative law. These educational efforts are designed to professionalize management and ensure that cooperatives are treated as serious economic actors rather than just social organizations.
The meeting also addressed the critical need for financial sustainability and market integration. By studying the model of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), the CDA aims to explore how cooperatives can access funding through strategic market borrowing and government-guaranteed loans rather than relying solely on traditional commercial banks. This financial flexibility is expected to support the growth of a robust trade portal for commodities such as Philippine cocoa and Indian grains.
The session featured prominent speakers, including CDA Chairperson Usec. Alexander B. Raquepo, Dr. Lionel Dabbadie of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Ms. Samitha Manohar of NEDAC, CDA Assistant Secretary Luz H. Yringco, Engr. Sylvia Okinlay-Paraguya of the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO Network), Philippines, Dr. Jyoti Saroop of Unati Cooperative, Mgen.Gilbert S. Llanto (Ret.) of ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative and CDA Administrator Emmanuel M. Santiaguel, provided valuable perspectives on cooperative innovation and market linkages. Other attending organizations are the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Cooperative Enterprise Development Service, Bureau of Plant and Industry, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Philippines International Trading Corporation, Quirino Federation of Cooperatives, Federation of Benguet Farmers Cooperative, Nueva Segovia Consortium of Cooperatives and AgriCOOPh.
