Agribusiness Venture Arrangements (AVAs) in Agrarian Reform Areas in the Philippines: Identifying Alternative Schemes and Investments for Sustained Productivity and Competitiveness

Abstract

Engagement of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Agribusiness venture arrangements (AVAs) is recognized by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through policies that govern the implementation of AVAs. Growership is considered as the most advantageous to the land recipients or ARBs, while lease arrangements, the most predominant are less preferred. Documented successes in AVAs were due to good management and better participation in the value chain for those engaged in growership schemes while failures were attributed to organizational dynamics, issues arising from low land lease rates and long duration of lease which limit opportunities for land management, productivity improvement and efficient marketing and trading by the ARBs. Other arrangements need to be explored and promoted by the agriculture, agrarian reform, and trade departments supported by responsible private sector investments that will further contribute to improving productivity, agricultural trade and competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.