The Farmers' Struggle
Across the Caraga Region, farmers stand at the frontline of a worsening crisis. Rising costs of fertilizers, fuel, and transport have made production unsustainable. Import-dependent policies flood local markets with cheaper goods, leaving corn, rice, and vegetable farmers unable to compete.
- Many rice farmers are trapped in debt, their lands mortgaged to survive.
- Climate change intensifies the struggle, especially for those without irrigation.
- Caraga's vegetable supply depends on 70% imports, undermining local producers and deepening poverty.
This is not just an agricultural problem—it is a human crisis. Families cannot afford basic needs, children are forced to abandon their dreams of college, and surplus harvests rot without local processing industries. Government programs exist, but bureaucracy often leaves small farmers behind.
Why APACO Matters
Cooperatives have proven their power in the Philippine economy, generating billions in assets and business volume. Programs like DA's Kadiwa show the potential: 931 cooperatives generated ₱2.3 billion in sales through direct farmer-to-market access.
APACO was born to turn potential into reality—to give farmers not just survival, but dignity, resilience, and prosperity.
Our Story
What began in June 2022 as "Gulayan at Pangisdaan sa Komunidad" in Barangay Tungao, Butuan City was more than a food security program—it was a spark of transformation.
Guided by Fr. Gilbert Billena and supported by RAFC–DA Caraga, Km7 Farmers Producer Cooperative, Christ the King Parish, and the Center for Disaster Preparedness, communal gardens and fishponds became lifelines for families.
From this seed grew APACO: a cooperative that now serves as the processing and value-adding hub for Caraga's farmers, ensuring that harvests are not wasted but transformed into sustainable livelihoods.