Author : Palo, Anton Simon M.; Carter, Lucy; Cosjin, Michaela; Merritt, Wendy

Summary : This issue of Agriculture and Development Notes introduces the Pangandoy method, a participatory and community-oriented research approach used to understand farmers’ aspirations, burdens, and coping strategies. Developed through the Inclusive Value Chains Philippines project, Pangandoy helps researchers and development practitioners look beyond production, markets, and income to better understand the human and social dimensions of inclusive value chains. Based on work with coffee-growing communities in the Philippines, the publication shows how farmers make decisions around cash, time, health, children’s education, and family well-being. It highlights the importance of listening deeply to smallholder farmers when designing agricultural development interventions. This note is especially relevant to those working on participatory research, coffee value chain development, farmer inclusion, and agri-food systems transformation.