The six (6) municipalities (Alabel, Malapatan, Malungon, Polomolok, Tampakan, and Tupi) which constitutes the Coconut Landscape for the first region of this Project is located at the southernmost part of the Philippines. The topology of each of the 6 municipalities varies amongst each other – with most of the Polomolok almost flat but with Malungon and Tupi having nearly half of their land at more than 50% slope. As a whole, about 20.35% of the landscape between 0-8% slope, 14.83% between 8-18% slope, 16.65% between 18-30% slope, 22.07% between 30-50% slope, and the remaining 26.09% with 50% slope. Almost all of the landscape is under climate type IV (Rainfall is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. This climate type resembles the second type more closely since it has no dry season.) A westmost portion of the Municipalities of Tampakan and Tupi, however, fall under climate type III (No very pronounced maximum rain period, with a short dry season lasting only from one to three months, either during the period from December to February or from March to May. This climate type resembles type I since it has a short dry season). The economic and livelihood activities of the six (6) municipalities are largely based on agriculture production of various crops which includes coconut/copra, corn, rice, mango, banana, coffee, abaca, papaya, and pineapple. The main economic sector of the 6 municipalities is an agriculture-based economy with some municipalities having processing facilities and other agriculture related services (i.e., manpower services, transportation and trucking). The overall trend of the agri-based economy in terms of production and value, as shared by the LGUs, is growing. Factors that contribute to this trend include (i) utilization of idle or not fully utilized agricultural lands, (ii) change of crop to more profitable ones, and (iii) inter-cropping – making the agriculture area more productive and profitable. The drivers to this change include (i) opening/construction/rehabilitation of access/farm-to-market roads, (ii) improvement/development in rural areas (i.e., expansion of electrification program), (iii) tax incentives to companies investing in the municipality, (iv) increase participation of Indigenous Peoples through IPRA implementation, (v) support of concerned NGA and LGUs in the agriculture industry, (vi) investment and activities of the private sector in the area. In terms of coconut production, the trend is said to be growing. The Coconut Alliance has already met the six (6) municipalities, the concerned provinces and agencies, and the private sector in different occasions towards building the partnership for this project. One of the activities with the highest number of stakeholders in a day was the stakeholder consultation (60+ stakeholders) where the participants were oriented about the Landscape Assessment Framework and about the Baseline and Endline Assessment.Climate change has triggered longer El Nino. Various farming practices (includes contour farming to manage surface water) have caused infestation of pest and diseases to adjacent farms, flooding of adjacent areas, and soil erosion. Social challenges and trends include the decreasing people in agriculture/farming. There is already a shortage of farm laborer and younger generations are inclined to choose non-agri related career options. Amongst the challenges shared by the LGUs include the low adoption of GAPs, unmanaged land conversion, health risk in rural areas, and difficulty in providing basic services in remote areas. Amongst the main concern in coconut production is the unstable price of coconut/copra – making coconut production a risk specially to small farmers. The coconut farms within the landscape are generally small and many are still into mono-cropping amidst the advocacy of the LGUs and DA on intercropping/multi-cropping system. With the unreliable price of coconut/copra, there were already coconut farmers who ultimately forgo coconut production in favor of more reliable high-value and fast-moving crops. There are coconut/copra consolidators and traders in the area – sourcing their coconut and/or copra within the landscape (6 municipalities) and outside the landscape. The large demand for coconut/copra are outside the large demand for coconut/copra are outside the landscape. Demand within the landscape for coconut by-product processing is still very small. See More