Seeds of Hope: Assisi’s Role in Uplifting Cacao Farmers

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Assisi Development Foundation (ADF) for sharing PhilSEED’s vision of social and economic prosperity for farmers in Region IX, the region with the highest poverty incidence in the Philippines.

Despite being a young organization, founded in May 2023, you placed your trust in us without hesitation. Your support has been instrumental in launching a research-based pilot program to test our assumption that rehabilitating abandoned and unproductive cacao farms could serve as a viable pathway to lifting farming families out of poverty.

Your generosity—through both financial contributions and capacity-building support—has made a profound impact. Nine months after the program’s launch in July 2023, participating farmers reported an income increase of 57% to 64%. One farmer, for instance, who previously had a monthly household disposable income of ₱8,000, saw an additional ₱4,500 to ₱5,200 from May to July 2024. His income grew to ₱13,150 in May, ₱12,535 in June, and ₱12,895 in July, with this upward trend continuing into August and beyond.

Thanks to your unwavering commitment, our collaborative program has directly impacted 90 farming families across six barangays, indirectly benefiting 552 individuals, including farmers’ children and farm workers who have gained employment through the initiative. Together, we have rehabilitated 49,371 cacao trees across 61.71 hectares of land.

While there is still much work to be done—particularly in revitalizing cacao farms and of intention”—your willingness to listen, visit communities, and work closely with us, adapting to different contexts, has made all the difference in delivering the necessary support to create lasting change.

One of our beneficiary farmers shared this heartfelt reflection:“It’s hard to trust when people promise to help you, especially when hope feels out of reach. But you’ve restored our faith, showing us that change is possible. Thank you for bringing belief back into our lives when we were surrounded by hopelessness.”

As you celebrate 50 years of serving the underprivileged in the Philippines, may you continue to draw inspiration from your visionary founders who believed improving agriculture in the region—our partnership proves that co-creating solutions is the most effective way to address the pressing social challenges facing our society.

Partnering with you has not only strengthened our capabilities as a social development organization but has also reinforced our passion, hope, and aspirations for a better Philippines. Through this collaboration, we have gained a deeper appreciation for “depth in the transformative power of service.”

The road to social equity is long and challenging, but partnerships like ours make the journey both meaningful and fulfilling.

We look forward to strengthening our collaboration in the poverty alleviation movement across the Zamboanga Peninsula. While addressing the immediate needs of our communities, we are also laying the foundation for the next generation of social innovators who will continue this impactful work.

Wishing you a joyous 50th anniversary! May your legacy of service continue to inspire and transform lives for years to come.