Author : Zarlina B. Cuello

Summary : The study aimed to determine the levels of and relationship between the institutional capacity, organizational capability and performance and to measure the readiness of POs to develop and manage organic agriculture projects. A management study involving seven POs represented by 35 officers and members, employing a descriptive-correlation research design. Indicators for capabilities were human capacities while for performance were involvement, prospect and satisfaction levels. POs capacities to pursue, link and advocate were determined. Descriptive statistics were mean scores, frequency counts and percentages. Test statistics were Chi Square (x2) test, Wilcoxon Sum rank test. Inferential test statistics was pearson correlation coefficient. Level of significance was established at p=0.05. SPSS 11.5 for Windows was the statistical program used. Respondents were more males (n=27) than females (n=8), average age was 37 years old, with high educational attainment, mostly farmers experienced in organic farming (1-15 years). POs were involved more in production and advocacy but not necessarily in providing livelihood to rural families. This study has shown that POs readiness to develop and manage organic agriculture projects was influenced by its organizational capability and performance. POs has existing human capacities that translate to its readiness in activities such as creating linkages, pursuing and advocating organic agriculture in their communities. POs has institutionalized production of organic farming in their local communities. They were advocates of sustainable agriculture who have capacity to generate linkages but they were mostly smallholder and hence require some government initiatives to be included in the accreditation of organizations that can access funds from DA-RFU 6 under the NOAP banner program. DA-RFU 6 should provide more enabling mechanisms for POs to better access and generate linkages to develop and manage organic agriculture projects in line with that of NOAP.