Fluctuating Fortunes of a Collective Enterprise: The Case of the Agroforestry Tree Seeds Association of Lantapan (ATSAL) in the Philippines

摘要: The Agroforestry Tree Seeds Association of Lantapan (ATSAL) in Bukidnon province Mindanao, Philippines, was organized 1998, facilitated by the World Centre (ICRAF). Farmers were trained on germplasm collection, processing and marketing agroforestry tree seeds seedlings. ATSAL has been various seedlings with apparent success, provided training seed collection nursery management to farmers, government technicians, workers from non-government organizations. This paper reports initial results a continuing study assess effectiveness ATSAL’s strategy, including group dynamics, issues challenges faces. It found that during first 2 years, market share highly demanded timber species grew rapidly, thus helping disseminate widely these important among farmers. ICRAF’s technical back-up an advantage, increasing Association’s credibility. Subsequently, extended its central but failed meet demand for due organizational limitations. Market competition exists, where non-member able take larger than group. Nonetheless, established name as viable community-based seedling producer, maintaining stronghold local regional markets. Collective action is smallholders gain access, unlikely sustain sales. Facilitating smallholder collective essentially arduous task, requiring supporting agency hold firm grasp realities, invest maintenance action, provide continuous back-up, ascertain conditions make succeed.