NEDAC Stakeholder Meeting in Manila Advances Asia-Pacific Vision for Cooperative-Led Development

Manila, Philippines | April 2026

The Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific convened a high-level Asia-Pacific stakeholder meeting in Manila, Philippines from 13–18 April 2026, bringing together representatives from governments, cooperative institutions, and development partners across the region. The meeting aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and shape the future of agricultural cooperatives. The initiative focused on promoting cross-country learning, facilitating cooperative-to-cooperative engagement, and sharing successful models that are driving rural transformation across member economies.

Under the leadership of Mr. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Chairman of NEDAC and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, the platform has significantly enhanced regional networking and collaboration. In his message, he emphasized that this is a defining moment for cooperatives to strengthen regional partnerships and expand their collective impact across the Asia-Pacific.

Reinforcing the spirit of regional solidarity, discussions highlighted the critical role of agricultural cooperatives as engines of inclusive growth, food security, and rural empowerment across Asia-Pacific economies.

The meeting witnessed participation from key global and regional partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Cooperative Development Authority, and the International Cooperative Alliance Asia-Pacific, alongside cooperative federations and development organizations from multiple countries.

In his remarks, Mr. Lionel Dabbadie, Country Representative of FAO, emphasized the need to deepen collaboration across the agricultural ecosystem. He noted that cooperatives must evolve into platforms of shared innovation, leveraging digital tools, modern technologies, and collective action to enhance productivity, resilience, and sustainability for smallholder farmers.

Echoing this perspective, Mr. Alexander B. Raquepo, Chairman of the Cooperative Development Authority, underscored the importance of strengthening cooperative value chains across borders. He emphasized inclusive participation from production to market access and highlighted the need for greater knowledge exchange and institutional cooperation. He also appreciated the initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, in advancing the cooperative movement.

Asec. Luz H. Yringco, Board Member, Head of the Agriculture Cooperatives Cluster, Cooperative Development Authority, highlighted opportunities for collaboration in the seeds and export sectors through NEDAC in partnership with India. She emphasized that stronger policy coordination can enhance trade and improve cooperative effectiveness, while also recognizing India’s experience in scaling cooperative institutions, digital transformation, and farmer-centric value chains as a valuable model for the region.

As part of the study tour, the NEDAC delegation visited SoroSoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC), one of the Philippines’ largest agri-based cooperatives. Known for its strong member-driven approach, SIDC plays a key role in swine and poultry production and has received national recognition, including “Outstanding Swine Farm” and “Outstanding Layer Farm” awards at Livestock Philippines 2024. Its model—grounded in values of satisfaction, integrity, development, engagement, and continuous improvement—demonstrates a scalable pathway for strengthening farmer livelihoods and cooperative ecosystems.

The Embassy of India in the Philippines expressed its openness to collaborating with the Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific to promote trade through cooperative festivals and to further strengthen linkages between Indian and Philippine cooperatives. During an interaction with Jeevan C. Kandpal, Second Secretary (Economic & Commerce), members of the delegation engaged in meaningful discussions on enhancing cooperation and exploring new avenues for deeper bilateral engagement between the two countries in the cooperative sector.

The NEDAC delegation also interacted with the Federation of People’s Sustainable Development Cooperative (FPSDC), which promotes inclusive, community-based cooperative development by strengthening grassroots institutions and supporting sustainable livelihoods.

Participants noted that NCDC’s chairmanship of NEDAC provides a strategic platform for strengthening regional integration, promoting South–South cooperation, and enhancing knowledge-sharing among member countries.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing cooperation, innovation, and collective action to build resilient, inclusive, and future-ready cooperative systems across the Asia-Pacific region.