verify/adapt technical improvements that have been successfully tried elsewhere, regular group meetings, setting up nurseries for new tea plants and shade trees, marketing, etc. The groups will also manage small revolving funds in order to assist the poorest members of their group to increase their investment in tea production. The project will also test the possibilities for organic tea production and marketing.

In support of this "output" oriented part of the project, there will be an "input" part, starting from the planning by the farmer groups, through the district level, to the provincial (and project) level. This participatory planning process, together with regular meetings among farmer groups, farmer trainers and technicians, will strengthen the local capacity to manage and implement activities and facilitate the efficient allocation of project funds and resources. The capacity of the technicians to facilitate this process will be further enhanced through additional training in participatory assessment and planning methods and gender awareness.

Lingap Maralita - Philippines

The Community IPM Programme of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines,  marks its thirteenth season of implementation this main crop of 1999.  With a record target of 30 season-long field schools scheduled to be conducted by 51 community-based facilitators, the programme shows greater vigour and strength than ever since its formal inception in the province in the second half of 1993.

The full programme for the current cropping season consists of 18 Farmers’ Field Schools (FFS) in as many farming communities and 12 Children’s Participatory Initiative (CPI) IPM courses in nine elementary and three high schools.  While most of the FFS are on rice, two will be on corn (maize) in the highly depressed islands of lling and Ambulong and one will be on vegetables in urban San Jose.

children.  The statistics are made more significant when one considers that the programme has  managed to bring IPM to 11 communities of Mangyans, indigenous tribes living in the hinterlands, necessitating a unique methodology and approach to bridge cultural and language barriers.

The IPM programme in Occidental Mindoro is now managed by a cooperative called Lingap Maralita, meaning “care of the poor”. This organisation is  composed of the same management team and cadre of community-based facilitators who were involved in IPM implementation for six years as a Church-based Livelihood Movement, known by the initials AVSJLM.  Of the 100 active and semi-active facilitators, 90% are farmers  who tend their own crops.

Lingap Maralita has just signed a new Memorandum of Agreement with the Provincial Government for the renewal of financial support, on top of assistance coming from the local governments of municipalities where field schools are being conducted.  Technical advice and some financial assistance have also  been provided by FAO. 

Recognising the local enthusiasm and support for IPM, Lingap Maralita has decided to double the number of CPI classes. The accreditation of these classes as part of the Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkalusugan (EPP) subject in elementary schools, and as part of the Technology and Home Economics (THE) subject in high schools, has been certified by the province’s division superintendent and fully supported by district supervisors, school principals and local teachers under the Department of Education.

Not a few who have observed the Community IPM Programme in Occidental Mindoro believe that it fulfills the development vision of the Province: prosperity for all by accelerating the agriculture-based economy in a sustainable way. “When I see farmers practicing IPM“ Provincial Governor Josephine Ramirez- Sato says, “I see the fulfillment of our dream towards responsible stewardship of creation.  When I look at our youth involved in IPM, I see in them today the face of tomorrow.”

Lingap Maralita can be contacted through the Director, Gil Manuuel, by phone or fax at this number in the Philippines: (63) 43-4915043.