Learning organization: group dynamics, institutional linkages toward technology adoption, value-adding innovation, and sustainability

Guided by the important lessons, principles and concepts drawn from the 50-year experience of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in agricultural and rural development (ARD), an action research was implemented in the Philippines under SEARCA's 10th five-year plan with the overarching theme Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (ISARD). It served as the primary basis for launching the flagship program Piloting and Upscaling Effective Models for ISARD, an initiative in demonstrating effective agricultural systems through ISARD models. Needs-based interventions and collaboration with rural communities, partner agencies, and other relevant organizations are the key strategies used in employing the development approach toward achieving the goals of food security and poverty alleviation. The pilot-testing of the ISARD model in two different sites in the Philippines was characterized by small-scale and multi-commodity production systems. A two-way interdisciplinary approach was utilized to examine and assess the ISARD model's viability and simultaneously draw important lessons for more effective implementation of ARD initiatives. The two identified sites and the corresponding projects are as follows: 1. Victoria, Oriental Mindoro: Revitalizing Calamansi Industry in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro through Strengthening Linkages among Farmers, LGU, NGAs, SUCs, CSOs, and the Private Sector; 2.Inopacan, Leyte: Strengthening Linkages among Farmers, Government, and Industry Sectors for Inclusive and Sustainable Rural Development in Inopacan, Leyte. The case studies from two sites featured the success stories of the interventions of ISARD through its components: (1)technical assistance; (2)capacity building; (3)knowledge management; and (4)linkaging networking. The outputs of the workshops, site visits, and meetings with stakeholders are collated as a basis in writing case studies. The cases are based on the experiences of two sites, highlighting the significant role of creating and strengthening organizations, specifically farmer's associations, in rural societies. The dynamics among people in organizations, coupled with linkages to other networks, are pertinent in achieving effective technology and information transfer. Moreover, the sustainability of the ARD projects in the area even after the project implementation period is also contingent of the institutional linkages formed by organizations. In the case of Victoria in Oriental Mindoro, SEARCA, with the Municipal Agriculture Office of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Victoria and then Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology (now university), facilitated the establishment of the Voctoria Kalamnsi Farmers Federation (VKKF). This initiative increased farmers' interest in revitalizing the calamansi industry in Victoria. Starting with 29 members, the organization barangays of Victoria that largely produce cakamansi. Initially, farmer cooperators were confined to the traditional production and marketing of fresh calamansi. Initially, farmer cooperators were confined to the traditional production and marketing of fresh calamansi fruits, practically missing the potential market opportunities of proven value-adding technologies applicable to calamansi. Looking through the enterprise development point of view, the idea of adding value to fresh calamansi fruits was a good starting point to renew farmers' interest as primary stakeholders. This was followed by the introduction of processing technologies and the conduct of necessary trainings on value-addition, which were successfully applied by the VKFF into what is now a calamansi processing enterprise.