Noel Vock

Noel Vock, an extension officer with Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, has led the Philippines Landcare Project for ten years, encouraging farmers and their communities to take control of their own problems and to implement appropriate solutions.

He says the farmers’ attitudes have changed and they’ve adopted new farming systems at a rate rarely before seen in the country.

“Landcare has better connected farmers with their markets via farmer marketing clusters, encouraging business and connecting farmers with sources of finance. It has also improved the livelihoods of communities dogged by religious and social conflict in the politically-volatile region of south-western Mindanao.

The practical guide was inspired by the need to provide more practical and relevant information on the art of landcare facilitation. The stories provide an interesting perspective on what works and what doesn’t while demonstrating the great passion these people have for the landcare process.”

Project leader Noel Vock at a landcare meeting in Bohol.