Product Offerings
Products:
Services: Market Development & Trade Facilitation, KADIWA Program Coordination, Farmers’ Enterprise Development, Investment Promotion
The Department of Agriculture – Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division for the Cordillera Administrative Region (AMAD RFO CAR) serves as a vital component in the regional agricultural development strategy. Operating from Baguio City, AMAD RFO CAR is responsible for facilitating market access, enterprise growth, and investment opportunities tailored to the unique topographic and cultural landscape of the Cordillera region.
Core Services and Program Focus
AMAD RFO CAR offers strategic services designed to transition smallholder farmers and cooperatives into competitive agribusiness players. These services include:
- Market Development and Trade Facilitation: Conducts trade fairs, exhibits, and direct buyer linkages to improve the marketability of highland agricultural products.
- KADIWA Program Coordination: Manages KADIWA ni Ani at Kita initiatives that reduce market layers and improve income generation by directly linking farmers to consumers and institutions.
- Farmers’ Enterprise Development: Provides business mentorship, product development support, and training on value addition and branding for farmer organizations and MSMEs.
- Investment Promotion: Assists agripreneurs in accessing funding, partnerships, and support services to develop scalable agribusiness ventures in the region.
These services are tailored to the high-altitude farming environment and indigenous cultural dynamics of the Cordillera provinces.
Specialization and Regional Advantage
AMAD RFO CAR’s specialization is built around the Cordillera’s:
- High-value, climate-specific crops such as Arabica coffee, strawberries, heirloom rice, and semi-temperate vegetables
- Agro-tourism potential, leveraging the region’s cultural and ecological assets
- Ethnic and women-led farmer groups, promoting inclusive development strategies
The division’s initiatives support climate-smart agriculture, sustainable enterprise models, and regional food sovereignty.
Target Beneficiaries
The division serves a broad spectrum of agricultural stakeholders across Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Baguio City, including:
- Smallholder farmers and fisherfolk
- Farmer cooperatives and Indigenous Peoples (IP) associations
- Agri-MSMEs
- Youth-led agri-enterprises and local food processors
Special emphasis is placed on geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) and communities with strong potential for product differentiation.
Capabilities and Implementation Infrastructure
AMAD RFO CAR operates through a decentralized structure with provincial field teams and technical staff. Core capabilities include:
- Training hubs and enterprise development workshops
- Digital market tracking and enterprise inventory systems
- Partnerships with local universities and NGOs for product innovation
- Packaging and labeling support tailored to export standards
This structure allows the division to deliver real-time, culturally sensitive support across remote highland communities.
Economic Performance and Outcomes
While it does not operate for profit, AMAD RFO CAR has made a measurable impact on the regional agribusiness landscape:
- Over ₱90 million in sales facilitated via KADIWA and trade linkage programs in the last 3 years
- More than 300 agri-enterprises supported annually with business development services
- Increased average farm income by 25–35% among KADIWA beneficiaries through better market integration
- Helped multiple farmer groups access national and international markets for heirloom rice, Arabica coffee, and native handicrafts
These results reflect the effectiveness of targeted market support in upland agricultural communities.
Governance and Regulatory Alignment
As part of the Department of Agriculture, AMAD RFO CAR complies with national standards for transparency and program delivery, including:
- Commission on Audit (COA) review protocols
- Department of Budget and Management (DBM) implementation guidelines
- Adherence to GAD and youth engagement policies
- Collaboration with DTI, DOST, and LGUs on investment and innovation programs
Community Feedback and Testimonials
AMAD CAR has received positive recognition for:
- Supporting local processors to become DA-accredited exporters of Cordillera Arabica and processed fruits
- Enabling farmer cooperatives to diversify into agritourism and community-based processing
- Strengthening women-led value chains in coffee and root crops
Farmer testimonials frequently highlight the increase in product quality, market exposure, and enterprise confidence as direct outcomes of AMAD’s assistance.
Major Achievements
- Coordinated the Cordillera Agri-Aqua Trade Fair, linking local producers to institutional buyers from Metro Manila and abroad
- Supported the Cordillera Heirloom Rice Project, enabling export of traditional rice varieties to premium markets
- Facilitated the establishment of agribusiness incubator hubs for coffee and vegetables in Benguet and Mountain Province
AMAD RFO CAR stands as a model of inclusive agribusiness development, leveraging the Cordillera’s unique ecological and cultural assets to drive sustainable growth and regional pride in Philippine agriculture.