The Mauanan Baluncanag Gaddangao Farmers Irrigators Credit Cooperative (MBGFICC) as a thriving agrarian reform cooperative.

The Mauanan Baluncanag Gaddangao Farmers Irrigators Credit Cooperative (MBGFICC) is a thriving agrarian reform cooperative located in Purok 1, Baluncanag, Rizal, Cagayan, Philippines. Established in the mountainous region northwest of Tuguegarao City, MBGFICC has become a model of grassroots resilience and agricultural innovation.

Origins and Development

MBGFICC traces its roots to the 1980s when local rice farmers from the barangays of Mauanan, Baluncanag, and Gaddangao united to create the MABAGA Communal Irrigation System. This initiative aimed to ensure equitable water distribution for farming activities. In 2012, the group formalized as the MBG Farmers Irrigators Association and later registered with the Cooperative Development Authority in 2018 as MBGFICC. At the time of registration, the cooperative had 36 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and assets amounting to ₱36,000.

Membership and Services

Today, MBGFICC boasts 225 members, primarily ARBs engaged in rice and corn cultivation. The cooperative offers a range of services, including production loans, discounted farm machinery services, organic fertilizer production through vermicomposting, and the sale of farm inputs at competitive rates. Additionally, MBGFICC manages irrigation systems to ensure sustainable water distribution.

Government Support and Achievements

MBGFICC has received substantial support from various government agencies. In 2015, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provided ₱31 million under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Program for Small Water Impounding Systems. The cooperative also benefited from the Sustainable Livelihood Enterprise Program, receiving ₱250,000 in additional capital for small lending in the form of farm inputs. 

Despite challenges such as typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic, MBGFICC demonstrated resilience by adapting its loan-giving approach and improving financial capacity through seminars and training provided by DAR. This adaptability led to a positive credit standing with the Land Bank of the Philippines, resulting in the approval of short-term loans and the acquisition of farm machinery, including a four-wheel-drive tractor and a rice combine harvester under the DA-PhilMech program. 

The Mauanan Baluncanag Gaddangao Farmers Irrigators Credit Cooperative (MBGFICC) in Rizal, Cagayan, has also been recognized as a Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). In 2022, the cooperative expanded its facilities by acquiring an additional 600 square meters of land specifically intended for the Farm Business School, aligning with its role as a beneficiary of the Agrarian Learning Site for Agriculture program.

As an LSA, MBGFICC serves as a model for sustainable farming practices, offering hands-on training and knowledge sharing to fellow farmers and community members. The cooperative's initiatives include organic fertilizer production through vermicomposting, efficient irrigation management, and the utilization of modern farm machinery. These efforts contribute to the empowerment of local farmers and the promotion of innovative agricultural techniques in the region.

Community Impact and Vision

MBGFICC has significantly contributed to the local economy by creating employment opportunities and supporting members in achieving financial stability. The cooperative's core values—Makers of dreams, Benevolence, God's loving members, Focus on one dream, Inspiring attitudes, Commitment to uplift lives, and Cooperation—guide its mission to uplift people's lives through accessible financial services, encapsulated in its motto, "No Farmers Left Behind."

MBG Farmers Irrigators Cooperative: From Agrarian Reform Beneficiary to Accredited Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA)

CAGAYAN VALLEY, PHILIPPINES — In a remarkable journey from tilling the land to transforming it into a center of learning, the MBG Farmers Irrigators Cooperative, an agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) in Region II, has earned its distinction as an accredited Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) under the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI).

From Land to Learning

Formed by a group of dedicated farmer-beneficiaries under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), MBG Farmers Irrigators Cooperative has long been a vital force in the rural economy of its community. With strong roots in rice farming and irrigation management, the cooperative was originally organized to empower farmers through land ownership and collective productivity.

Today, it stands as more than just a farmers’ cooperative—it is a beacon of innovation and shared knowledge, recognized officially as an LSA, where it hosts learning sessions, field demonstrations, and technical trainings for farmers, youth, agricultural extension workers, and other stakeholders in the agri-fishery sector.

Building Capacity Through Agriculture

The LSA program, spearheaded by the DA-ATI, aims to recognize and support farmer-led farms that showcase effective, sustainable, and innovative farming practices. The MBG cooperative fits this mold perfectly. Its members have adopted diversified and climate-resilient farming systems that include:

• Palay production using water-efficient irrigation systems

• Integrated rice-fish farming

• Vermicomposting and organic fertilizer production

• Use of farm machinery for postharvest processing

As an LSA, MBG now serves as a hands-on learning venue where trainees can engage directly with actual farming processes—from land preparation and crop production to marketing and cooperative management.

Agrarian Reform in Action

The MBG Farmers Irrigators Cooperative’s recognition as an LSA also underscores the success of the Department of Agrarian Reform’s support services, particularly in ARBO development and sustainability. With the backing of DAR and its partnership with DA-ATI, cooperatives like MBG are not only increasing farm productivity but also fostering a new generation of farmer-leaders and agri-entrepreneurs.

Empowering Rural Communities

For members of the cooperative and the broader community, the impact has been transformative. Local farmers now have access to technical training without the need to travel far, while young people are being drawn back to agriculture through MBG’s inclusive, community-based learning approach.

“Our farm is not just a source of livelihood—it is a classroom, a laboratory, and a place of hope,” says [Cooperative Chairperson/Manager], highlighting the importance of farmer-led learning in rural development.

The Road Ahead

As MBG Farmers Irrigators Cooperative continues to grow in its dual role as a productive ARBO and a Learning Site for Agriculture, it envisions further innovation, partnerships, and youth engagement. Plans are underway to expand its demonstration areas, host more specialized trainings, and serve as a model for other ARBOs aspiring to become LSAs.

Its success story is a testament to what can happen when agrarian reform, cooperative empowerment, and agricultural education converge, building not only better farms but stronger, self-sustaining communities.