Her Voice, His Voice: UPLB-ICOPED Brings Dairy Farming Cooperatives Together to Advance Gender Equality and Cooperative Development

The Institute of Cooperatives and Bio-Enterprise Development (ICOPED) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) conducted a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) in Nueva Ecija, Davao del Sur, Dumaguete City, and Siquijor from January to June 2026. 

The activities formed part of the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD)-funded project, "The Role of Gender and Collective Action in Unlocking the Philippine Dairy Industry," which aims to generate evidence-based insights on gender dynamics, collective action, and inclusive development across the cooperative dairy value chain in the Philippines.

Carrying the theme "Her Voice, His Voice: Shared Roles and Leadership in Dairy Farming," the FGDs provided a participatory platform for dairy cooperative members to reflect on gender roles, decision-making within households and cooperatives, leadership, challenges and opportunities in dairy farming, and the influence of gender relations on cooperative performance. The KIIs complemented these discussions by gathering perspectives from key government and industry stakeholders on policies, institutional support, and emerging issues affecting the dairy sector.

Each FGD convened representatives from partner cooperatives within the respective province, with a minimum of ten women and men participants in each session. Participating organizations included San Isidro Magsaysay Agriculture Cooperative and Inyam Pintuan Asbang Multipurpose Cooperative (IPAMCO) in Davao del Sur; Simula ng Panibagong Bukas Multipurpose Cooperative, Catalanacan Multipurpose Cooperative, and Eastern Primary Multipurpose Cooperative in Nueva Ecija; Valencia Dairy Cooperative, Zamboanguita Small Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Dairy Farmers of Dumaguete Cooperative in Dumaguete City; and Kababayin-an Alang sa Pagpalambo sa Nasudnong Industriya sa Gatas Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Siquijor. DOST-PCAARRD Project Manager Ms. Jess Juliano also participated and co-facilitated the FGDs in Nueva Ecija, Dumaguete City, and Siquijor.

The insights generated from the FGDs and KIIs will complement the project's nationwide survey results and strengthen the evidence base for developing gender-responsive policies and programs. The findings are expected to support more inclusive cooperative governance, enhance women's and men's participation in the dairy value chain, and contribute to building a more resilient and competitive Philippine dairy industry.

#DairyCooperatives #PhilippineDairyIndusty #Cooperative #GenderInAgriculture #GenderEquality

MTMCastro & EJSalonga