The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are considering extending the RAPID Growth Project to complete outstanding investments and strengthen rural enterprises before the initiative’s scheduled closure in mid-2027.
The proposed extension aims to finish remaining interventions and preserve gains from a program that has reached 228,439 individuals across Eastern Visayas and Mindanao, with average annual household income increasing 41.5 percent since 2025, according to the DTI.
Launched in 2019, the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Agricultural Development and Growth project connects smallholder farmers to commercial agricultural value chains through financing, cooperative investments, infrastructure development, and partnerships with private buyers.
The DTI is prioritizing the completion of remaining investments and the expansion of commercial partnerships as it works with IFAD on possible extensions of the program.
The discussions follow IFAD’s October 12–23 supervision mission, led by country director Candra Samekto, which inspected project sites in Regions 11 and 12 and evaluated the performance of rural enterprises.
Among the project’s gains are specialized financing products introduced by Makilala Multipurpose Cooperative and Sta. Catalina Multipurpose Cooperative in Cotabato to improve coconut farmers’ access to capital and operational support.
Grant-funded investments are also helping farmer organizations in Davao de Oro and Davao del Sur incorporate gender equality, social inclusion, and environmental safeguards into their operations.
Infrastructure development has likewise improved market access. A 1.32-kilometer farm-to-market road in Matalam, Cotabato, was turned over on September 30, benefiting 1,060 households by facilitating the movement of agricultural produce.
The DTI aims to build on these investments by strengthening commercial links among cooperatives, buyers, and development partners, helping rural enterprises remain viable beyond the project’s original implementation period.
