The Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) Growth Project continues to strengthen its monitoring efforts by conducting a series of post-planting validation activities across coffee and cacao expansion areas in Bukidnon during the first half of 2026.

The activity forms part of the project's Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system to assess the survival and initial growth of distributed seedlings, verify the adoption of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), confirm proper planting of farm inputs provided through the Matching Grant (MG), and validate field accomplishments of partner Farmers' Organizations (FOs).

From February to July 2026, RAPID Growth teams conducted validation activities in the municipalities of Impasug-ong, Lantapan, Talakag, Pangantucan, Malitbog, Damulog, San Fernando, and Kadingilan, Bukidnon, covering both coffee and cacao expansion areas supported by the project.

The monitoring covered partner organizations including the Kauyagan Savers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (KSMPC), Palamboon Farmers Association (PFA), Bayanihan Millennium Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMMPC), Malitbog Industrial and Agricultural Association (MIAA), Balaoro Farmers Association Inc. (BAFAI), Migcawayan Tribal Agriculture Cooperative (MTAC), New Eden Multi-Purpose Cooperative (NEMUCO), Cacao Farmers Association Inc.(CFAI), and Organikk Multi-Purpose Cooperative (OMPC).

Throughout the validation activities, project personnel interviewed 322 smallholder farmer (SHF) beneficiaries to verify the receipt and planting of distributed coffee and cacao seedlings, assess seedling survival and initial plant growth, and document compliance with recommended farming practices. Geotagging of plantation sites was likewise undertaken to validate the actual establishment of project-supported expansion areas and strengthen monitoring and reporting.

As the RAPID Growth Project enters its final implementation phase, post-planting validation remains a critical component of its results-based monitoring system. The continuous assessment of expansion areas provides evidence of project accomplishments, supports data-driven decision-making, and helps ensure that investments in the coffee and cacao value chains contribute to improved productivity, stronger market participation, and sustainable rural livelihoods in Bukidnon.