Land distribution turns landless community into organic farming cooperative

Location: Camarines Sur, Philippines

Timeline: 1988 - present

Principal organisations: PAKISAMA

The Philippines embarked on a comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme in 1981, set to redistribute 8.1 million hectares of land. Three years later, following land reforms, the Pecuaria Development Cooperative Inc. (PDCI) was established in Lanipga, Bula, a municipality in the province of Camarines Sur. In this period, 817 hectares of arable land were made available for the cooperative’s 426 members by the Philippine government. Due to PDCI’s hard work and strategic partnerships, effectively enhancing organic agriculture processes and supply chains, the small producers have seen their quality of life and farming capacity improved, their incomes increased and the environment sustained.