Advancing verification readiness for Libungan coconut farmers

On 15 September, Proforest and the Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF) co-facilitated a Sustainable Coconut Partnership (SCP) Orientation Workshop for Libungan Marketing Cooperative (LIMCO) farmers at Libungan, North Cotabato, Philippines.

The orientation workshop brought together 38 participants, including LIMCO Board members, officers and farmers, to strengthen their understanding of the SCP Origin Standard, verification requirements, scoring and claims processes. 

The discussions addressed practical implementation challenges, including farmer selection, group composition, soil fertility assessment, waste management, replanting, ethical recruitment and prohibited chemical use. 

Participants also expressed interest in Good Agricultural Practices training and self-assessment tools to support their readiness for SCP verification.

Following the farmers’ orientation on the Sustainable Coconut Charter (SCC) under the SCP, a simplified self-assessment checklist was developed to help farmers evaluate their readiness, identify gaps in their current practices, and work towards meeting the sustainability requirements.

The workshop is part of Proforest’s on-going efforts to drive responsible sourcing and production in the coconut sector of the Philippines. Through coordinated multi-stakeholder approach with suppliers and upstream producers, we aim to better understand location-specific challenges while identifying opportunities to deliver positive outcomes in farming areas. 

For more information, contact jayashree@proforest.net