ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED FARM ENTERPRISE: AN INTERVENTION ON COVID-19 CHALLENGES IN BUKIDNON, PHILIPPINES

Abstract The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly food security, pushed higher educational institutions to respond to the community's needs. Central Mindanao University (CMU) in the Philippines established community-based agricultural enterprises. Such an enterprise is innovative since it facilitates collaboration between CMU, Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NOMCAARRD), and other stakeholders. This project aimed to establish farm enterprises using a community-based participatory approach. The project was implemented among one elementary school, one integrated school, and four People’s Organizations in Bukidnon, Philippines. The project was implemented through the transfer of technologies to the beneficiaries. These technologies include mushroom production, pinakbet vegetable production, and vermicompost production. Market linkages, farm on-site and off-site consultation, farm capability building, training, partnerships with Local Government Units and private companies, and the provision of farm inputs and materials fueled the implementation. Aside from addressing Sustainable Development Goals, the project was seen as a catalyst to capacitate the community for food security and alternative sources of income. The beneficiaries could produce vegetables, mushrooms, and vermicompost and share them with their organization. For school beneficiaries, implementing the project is also deemed to encourage more students to engage in agricultural entrepreneurship in response to the declining enrollment trend in agriculture-related courses in the state universities and colleges in the Philippines. Keywords: Community-based enterprise, market linkage, Covid-19.