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."
