Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization
CLSU Compound, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija

FEATURES

Standing on values
by Jerry James M. de la Torre (July 1, 2004)



Cooperativism,
though full of lofty ideals for the upliftment of local farmers, is gasping for breath. Dying or dead farmer cooperatives are strewn all over the country.


A few years ago, I was exposed to these cooperatives nationwide as a training officer and at one time, as an evaluator. A healthy farmer-cooperative is such a rare find. When I learned about the success of Nagkakaisang Magsasaka Agricultural Primary Multipurpose Cooperative (NMAPMPC) in Tabacao, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, I was impressed. Five more years of consistent excellent performance, I was convinced it belongs to an exceptional breed.


A cooperative is a group of persons who share resources to pursue economic activities for both profit and service to members. The members choose their officers and craft their own policies democratically. Many government, private and non-government organizations, both local and foreign, have poured in various forms of assistance to cooperatives without much success. In many cases, cooperatives die from utter lack of sense of ownership and responsibility, mismanagement, lack of transparency, conflict of interest and poor business sense. NMAPMPC seems immune from these plagues. Many people wonder why.


Straightforward, solid honesty


When I asked for an interview, Manager Teresita Serrano was straightforward. No excess words. I arrived five minutes early but she and Chairman Ricardo Buenaventura were already there. They are punctual and very professional.


A few moments into the discussion, Chairman Buenaventura handed out some peso bills to a staff for the snacks of their laborers. The staff came back shortly, returning the excess 20 pesos. The scene easily concretizes the culture of solid honesty within the cooperative that starts with small things and ordinary transactions.


There's life after debt


NMAPMPC started with 16 farmer-members on April 3, 1989 extending agricultural production loans. The membership fee and share capital from each person were P50 and P345, respectively. In 1992, NMAPMPC was registered at the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).


This year, it has 309 members already whose collective share capital amounts to P4,078,142.55. The total liabilities and capital is 16,091,728.02. Last year alone, it earned a net income of P1,291,948.99 and was never threatened of bankruptcy or even negative net income ever since.


A difficult period did occur in 1994-1996 when it obtained a P1.5M loan for duck raising.