A total of P105 million infrastructure support facilities were turned over in Lanao del Norte, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao this week as part of the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to farmers reeling from the impact of COVID-19.
The projects include a farm-to-market road, rural water systems, and communal irrigation facilities.
These were all completed in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as part of the Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development Project (MinSAAD) which aims to jumpstart economic activities in agrarian reform communities through infrastructure projects like farm-to-market roads, bridges, irrigation, potable water systems, and post-harvest facilities.
Farmers and farmers’ organizations under the project are also trained on agriculture, agribusiness, and agroforestry development.
Four subprojects amounting to P44 million under this component were also turned over to farmer beneficiaries in North Cotabato on December 16.
“Turned over subprojects have to be operated and maintained well for them to sustain the delivery of their intended benefits over their intended economic life. With the increase in household incomes, peace, prosperity, and development will follow within the target settlement area,” Eduardo Suaybaguio, Project Manager of MinSAAD, said.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the COVID-19 crisis combined with natural disasters, have led to food accessibility issues in places like Mindanao.
The containment of COVID-19 measures have likewise exacerbated supply chain issues and productivity.
JICA said the projects turned over this week will help boost agricultural production.
Farmers were also given assistance on rubber production processing and marketing, as well as crop intensification for products like coffee and cacao.