In order to provide more impetus to revitalize and sustain the organization of farmers, fisherfolk, livestock and poultry raisers, RIC, 4-H Club members and their activities to make them functional and productive partners of the Department of Agriculture (DA), this Administrative Order is hereby issued.


Following the principle of people empowerment espoused by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) to ensure the development of the agriculture and fisheries sectors in alleviating rural poverty and the role of the private sector in extension as a subsystem of the National Extension System for Agriculture and Fisheries, the DA shall encourage the participation of farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and associations, and others in the private sector in training and other complementary extension services especially in community organizing, use of participatory approaches, popularization of training materials, regenerative agricultural technologies, agribusiness and management skills.


These guidelines shall serve to guide officials and employees of the DA in handling the participation of farmers, fisherfolk, livestock and poultry raisers, RIC, 4-H Club members and devolved agriculturists as the Department's partners in realizing the objectives of the AFMA and following the guiding principles above.


a. Farmers - embraces the ramification of RA 7607 definition of small farmers as, "natural persons depending on farming as their primary source of income and on the sale, barter or exchange of agricultural products".

Includes cutflower growers, nursery operators, commercial tree planters, seed producers and small agricultural producers as tenants sharecroppers, peasants, small owner-cultivator or self-employed individual who, by himself or with his family, provides the primary labor requirements of his business enterprise or one who earns at least 50% of his gross income from the payment, proceeds or income of the labor he provides.

b. Fisherfolk - as defined by the IRR of EO 240, refers to persons directly or personally and physically engaged in the taking and/or culture of fish and processing of fishery and/or aquatic resources.

c. Livestock and Poultry Raisers - farmers engaged in livestock and poultry raising

d. Farmers/Fisherfolk Association - is a group of farmers, fisherfolk, livestock and poultry raisers

e. Rural Improvement Club - is an association of rural women primarily aimed at the upliftment of the farmer and fisherfolk families through farm home resources management, leadership in the community, women's empowerment and entrepreneurship.

f. 4-H Club - is a duly registered non-government organization of farm youths preferably out-of-school youth whose ages range from 12-30 years old engaged in agricultural projects aimed at developing self-reliance, entrepreneurship and leadership. It includes qualified members of the alumni associations, i.e. PATP, JAEC and IFYE.

Although not rural-based organizations, this AO shall also apply to the following organizations:

a. PAPCA - is the duly recognized association of Provincial and City Agriculturist

b. DAP - the duly recognized association of Municipal Agriculturists/ Agricultural Technicians.


a. The Revitalization Committee created under AO 12 is effectively abolished with the issuance of this AO.

b. The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) shall serve as the National Secretariat and Over-all Coordinator in the management and supervision of the revitalization and sustaining activities of rural-based organizations. The ATI Director shall be assisted by the designated ATI National Coordinator for Farmers'/Fisherfolk Associations, RIC and 4-H Club, PAPCA/DAP. As Head of the Secretariat, the ATI Director is authorized to call the DA-RFU Coordinators and National Presidents of the clubs/associations in Section III hereof for consultative meetings. The National Secretariat shall also maintain a databank of the activities and accomplishment of the clubs/associations in coordination with the DA-RFU coordinators.

c. The DA-RFUs shall serve as the Regional Secretariat to be headed by the Regional Executive Director who shall be assisted by the designated Regional Coordinators for Farmers'/Fisherfolk Associations, RIC, 4-H Club and PAPCA/DAP.

d. A Provincial and Municipal Coordinator shall be designated by the respective Governor or Mayor. They shall assist in planning, identification, implementation and sustainability of livelihood and other socio-economic projects, formation of cooperatives and facilitating linkages with credit institutions, congressional funds and other sources of assistance.

It is preferred that designated Coordinators at all levels have the educational background and/or appropriate training aligned to the association's/club's orientation. Replacements for the position of Coordinator should preferably have the same educational background and/or training as indicated above.


To strengthen and sustain the activities of these groups to achieve family and community development in the rural areas, the DA shall provide them with the following interventions, subject to the availability of DA resources:

1. Training on work-oriented values, leadership skills development and entrepreneurship

2. Materials and financial support to attend the following:

a) Consultative meetings of officers, leaders and implementors

b) Farm Family Forum/Achievement Days at the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels

c) DA-initiated and approved livelihood and other socio-economic projects

d) On-the-job trainings and observations tours

e) Inter-agency programs (i.e. Kabataan 2002, BIDANI and Population Education


a. To facilitate immediate implementation of this Administrative Order, funding shall be provided as a line item in the DA budget starting CY 2002 to be allotted quarterly to the Regional Field Units, provided that annual allocation shall be:

i. Divided proportionately among the regions depending on the number of provinces under each region, with the region which has a greater number of provinces getting a bigger share; and

ii. Provided that the RFU with the greatest number of provinces shall not receive more than Pesos: Three Million (P3.0 million) for this purpose per year.

b. Funding support for the implementation of livelihood projects shall be sourced through the initiative of the association/club.


To facilitate coordination with Local Government Units, existing Memoranda of Agreement between and among the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Presidents of Governors and Mayors Leagues of the Philippines shall apply in the implementation of this Administrative Order.


The Constitution and By-Laws of all associations/clubs shall continue to guide the conduct of activities of these respective associations/clubs.


These implementing guidelines shall take effect immediately upon approval hereof and shall remain in full force and effect unless revoked.

Administrative Order No. 12 dated July 12, 1996, its implementing guidelines and other issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby revoked.

Adopted: 15 April 2002