From Seeds to Shelves: A Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative Story

Mr. Roger Barroga-FutureRice program leader,

 Mr. Mario Alolosan-Don Bosco MPC Chairman of the Board

 and Ms. Gilda Abian-Don Bosco MPC General Operations  Manager 

discussing the Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative story

Biodynamic farming is said to be much greater than organic farming. Rudolf Steiner’s biodynamic agriculture focuses on the science of life forces that promotes balance and healing. When food is produced through the use of chemicals, its life force is being depleted and in turn causes health risks to people and the environment. Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative began its advocacy on biodynamic farming when they discovered it back in 1995. It started its operation with the support of Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development, Inc.  From a demo farm, it brought the technology down to the farmers. 

Tracing the roots of Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative
Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development, Inc. started from the Kidapawan Diocesan Youth Program in 1985. Then it became Don Bosco Diocesan Youth Center, Inc. in 1988 with office address in Batasan, Makilala, Cotabato. There was a change in advocacy from helping the youth to empowering farmers and farming communities. The programs and services was anchored to organic farming.

An array of red, black and brown organic rice at Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative

 office in Mlang, Cotabato with the certifications from OCCP and CERES

The first project began in 1988, a demonstration farm on sustainable farming on a donated land. It started with the construction of farm house, mini-forest, perimeter fencing and goat barn. A funding grant from Switzerland and Germany was used to further develop the demo farms in Makilala, Cotabato.  After 2 years of biodynamic farming in 1997, farmers observed the increase in yield and the improvement in soil and crop quality.   

Struggles from a Subsidized to an Independent Cooperative

The cooperative faced several challenges during its early years of agricultural production and marketing. First, its operation only revolved around the grant money from donor agencies. Don Bosco still continue its operation despite the lack of donor fund, personnel, equipment and basic facilities such as rice mill and trucks. Slowly, the cooperative is paying the foundation for the usage of its facilities and subsidizing the payment for the farmers. 

In the past, farmers do the production and processing of the products. Secondly, the marketing and distribution was shouldered by Don Bosco even without a background in agribusiness marketing. Now, its value chain follows “seeds to shelves” concept which means that the cooperative is creating products and markets at the same time.  

Thirdly, the conversion from conventional to organic farming took two to three cropping seasons depending on the condition of the soil. Farmers’ low harvests are also bought in a small price by the cooperative. Values formation for the farmers are also done, educating them of what they should provide for their rice crop, thus, following the biodynamic way “from soul to soil” and “from self to shelf.” 

Another struggle is that farmers do not want to apply for membership in the cooperative due to negative notions about it until slowly the benefits of membership were recognized.

One of the best programs developed by the cooperative is the Agrarian Redemption Program under the extension program of Don Bosco which redeemed the mortgaged rice lands of farmers for P150,000 per hectare. The rice lands were converted to organic and biodynamic systems, certified organically, and given back to the farmers. The farmers are relieved of the financial obligations after 6 years.  

Challenge in Marketing the Product

Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative has six Bios Dynamis shops in Mindanao 

and Manila, selling organic rice and non-rice processed products

At first, the management and staff of the cooperative do not know how to market their products until such time that they have to bring their produce to the market due to surplus.  They opened a shop to market their produce without considering the economic benefits, just selling rice for the purpose of product disposal. Palay was sold at 7 pesos per kilo, and 700 pesos for one sack of rice. 

The cooperative doesn’t know the business side of rice trading, therefore missing out the importance of profits back then. The operation of the cooperative is mobilized by grant money coming from the foundation donated by international funds. The credit and savings program started with 700,000 pesos capital, now its assets amounts to about 60 million pesos. The cooperative did massive education on organic farming and its produce. People were educated about its benefits as well as the reason for its higher mark-up price. 

One of the strength of organic farming is its high price and niche market. Organic farmers are able to earn more from their produce since they can demand a higher price for it.

The farmers, farming communities and demo farms have already produced biodynamic rice, vegetables, fruits and root crops and it must be sold separately from conventionally grown products. In 1998, Don Bosco Health Foods Center was launched as its store outlet in Makilala, North Cotabato to sell their products with added quality and health value.

In 2006, the management and staff had a meeting if Don Bosco should be a corporation or cooperative. They chose to register as a cooperative instead of a corporation. A corporation will demand high taxes, and they will pass it on to farmers and consumers. Now the biodynamic products are selling in malls, in in six established Bios Dynamis shops in Mindanao and Manila and in international organic markets. 

Biodynamic Way of Farming and its Benefits 

Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative is one of the top five certified organic collaborators of the Department of Agriculture. It was recognized as the Most Outstanding Cooperative in the Regional level Gawad Saka 2014 by DA. It is pushing through sustainable agriculture and enterprise development.

FutureRice team and Dr. Ann Cortado-CeC manager of Mlang, Cotabato holding 

 red, black and brown organic rices of Don Bosco Multi-Purpose Cooperative

Farmers are satisfied with the benefits of biodynamic farming in terms of increased income, savings in farm inputs and time, and improved health for their family as well as to their product consumers. 

The production area is 430 hectares, in which 130 hectares is certified at the national level and 65 hectares is certified at the international level while all the remaining lands are in conversion. The land in conversion means that the farmers have less than two years practice in biodynamic farming. The cooperative has an average production of 80 cavans per hectare with 58 to 65 kilograms per sack. The wet season is more favorable for rice planting in Mlang, Cotabato since the harvest is higher. 

Don Bosco Multi-Purpose has established an organic farming industry that has evolved by considering the problems of the farmers, consumers and the environment. It has created programs for community empowerment. Farmers were given credit and marketing support to free them from loan sharks and convert their lands to organic farms.  Also, women from the farming families were taught of skills on how to process farm produce for added value. On the other hand, the consumers were oriented on the benefits of products that were grown free from chemicals. Biodynamic farming has also saved the environment from the harmful effects of herbicides, pesticides and toxic fertilizers. 

Writer: Wendy A. Hernandez 
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