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In parts of the Philippines, farmers who are interested in learning and sharing knowledge about sustainable land management and new SWC measures organise themselves into the so-called 'Landcare' associations. These self-help groups in their efforts to improve their livelihoods as well as the environment.
Landcare has three components and aims at strengthening collaboration between those:
- Grassroot farmer's organisations (Landcare organisations)
- Technical facilitators, for example the World Agroforestry Centre (formerly the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry), government and academic agency
- Local government units (LGUs).
The Landcare associations are structured as municipal groups, village groups (barangay level or affiliate people's organisations) and village sub-groups (sitio or purok level). This ensures effective dissemination of technologies from the municipal level down to the smallest village. To give the associations a legal status they are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC). Landcare associations conduct regular monthly meetings to promote exchange of information, ideas and experience thus promoting spread of SWC technologies. Extension service is carried out through the Local Government Units, which allocate 20% of their development funds for Landcare related activities such as meetings, trainings and visits and nursery establishment. Farmers organised in Landcare groups have better access to technical and financial support for SWC activities from LGUs and other technical facilitators.
LGUs also enact local laws to encourage adoption of SWC technologies, such as giving tax incentives and Landcare members are given priority access to programmes and financial assistance. Landcare acts as a guarantor against loans. The facilitating agencies provide technical assistance and also helps create an environment of dynamism among Landcare groups. A link is created between Landcare associations and these service providers.
Landcare enhances sharing of labour, builds camaraderie and encourages group decisions on matters relating to SWC. The approach is spreading rapidly from the original one associations with 25 members in 1996, this increased to 45 groups with over 4,000 members by 1999.
