IMDALSA: A Cooperative’s Journey from Mt. Kitanglad
Bukidnon – At the foot of Mt. Kitanglad, a vast dormant volcano spanning the municipalities of Libona, Lantapan, Sumilao, Impasug-ong, and Malaybalay City, local farmers are reaping the benefits of fertile soil and cool climate conditions. They grow corn, vegetables, and spring onions throughout the year, but among their finest products is one of Bukidnon’s finest treasures: arabica coffee.
Today, farmers are capitalizing on the rising demand for coffee in local and international markets. Coffee from Mt. Kitanglad is award-winning, often recognized as “specialty coffee” in regional and national coffee competitions.
But the success brewing in the highlands wasn’t instant. It’s a product of years of hard work, shared dreams, and the perseverance of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who dared to build something bigger—a cooperative that would change lives.
The birth of IMDALSA Agrarian Cooperative
In May 2012, farmer associations from Barangays Impalutao and Dalwangan, as well as those situated in sitios along the Sawaga River in Malaybalay, joined forces to establish the Impalutao Dalwangan and Sawaga Agrarian Reform Cooperative (IMDALSA ARC).
Most of its members were farm workers of the Dalwangan Development Corporation, which was awarded lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform Law (CARPER Law). By 2014, IMDALSA had begun cultivating coffee collectively, intercropping it with other cash crops.
Eventually, the cooperative expanded to marketing green coffee beans and ventured into processing grounded coffee. They began buying ripe red cherries from farmer members and selling them to domestic buyers while also providing production and consumption loans to support farmers’ needs.
Membership steadily grew to 175 farm owners. IMDALSA established a coffee nursery and operated a small coffee shop. But as the cooperative grew, so did the challenges.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, forcing them to temporarily suspend loan collections.
At the same time, many farmer members have yet to adopt effective coffee production and processing practices, which affect yield and quality.
Partnership with Peace and Equity Foundation
In 2022, IMDALSA partnered with the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) on the “From Farm to Cup” Project, an initiative designed to assist farmers in enhancing their coffee production.
The partnership provided working capital that enabled IMDALSA to consolidate 4.6 metric tons of green coffee beans from 176 farmers in Impasugong, Malaybalay, and Pangantucan. The project also supported the strengthening of the cooperative’s leadership and training of farmers in good agricultural practices and cooperative management.
In May 2024, IMDALSA General Manager Cora Llauderes and Chairman Noel Duyongan participated in a learning visit to Vietnam to learn advanced coffee farming techniques. The cooperative then established a demonstration farm to apply the knowledge gained during the visit. Remarkably, the coffee trees started to bear fruit in just eight months, much earlier than expected.
Brewing a Better Future
The gains have been tangible. IMDALSA now buys coffee beans for Php 40 more per kilo than what traders offer, translating to an additional income of Php 3,400 per farmer per harvest season. With support from PEF, showcasing their products at the Philippine Coffee Expo gave them national exposure.
Through the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry, IMDALSA rebranded and repackaged its coffee, launching a new product line – Con Amor Coffee.
From humble beginnings, IMDALSA has grown into a cooperative that reflects the strength and unity of its farming community. For its members, farming is more than just a source of income—it’s a shared commitment to progress. With stronger partnerships, community-driven leadership, and a resilient spirit, IMDALSA is not just cultivating coffee.
They’re cultivating a better future. They’re nurturing change — one harvest at a time.