ILOILO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing climate-resilient farming in Western Visayas or Region 6.
The DA-Region 6 Western Visayas Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) has expanded for selected farming communities in Panay and Negros Islands.
“The project is inscribing the adverse impact of climate change to our crops and even to livestock and poultry,” said Argeline Fabela, AMIA coordinator for Western Visayas.
So far, Iloilo has the most number of barangays under the AMIA, in the towns of Bingawan and San Rafael.
There are also AMIA villages in Numancia, Aklan; Anini-y, Antique; Dao, Capiz; and Cauayan, Negros Occidental.
The AMIA program has tapped various attached agencies of the DA, government agencies, and private groups to strengthen assistance to farmer-beneficiaries.
From the DA are the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) while State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is also working with DA.
Private organizations the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and Rice Watch Action Network (RWAN) are also on board for AMIA.