DA-MRDP earmarks P1.3-B agri, livelihood projects for Mindanao farmers, fisherfolk

The Department of Agriculture has earmarked a total of P1.3 billion to increase the productivity and incomes of farmers, fisherfolk, women and indigenous peoples (IPs) in Mindanao.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the P1.3B is comprised of various livelihood and infrastructure projects under the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component of the DA's Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP), a World bank-funded medium-term poverty alleviation initiative.

Of the total CFAD fund, P388.25 million (M) has already been given to beneficiaries,
P345.37 million is allotted for ongoing projects and those for implementation, and the balance of P412.3M is earmarked for proposed projects by various People’s Organizations (PO).

For her part, MRDP and concurrent DA Region 10 director Lealyn A. Ramos said the amount was mostly allotted for food security interventions, community livelihood projects and establishment of needed support infrastructure – benefitting a total of 124,816 households.

With the aim to increase agricultural production and incomes of small farmers, the CFAD is a municipal-based facility through which the DA-MRDP provides financing for diverse needs and priorities by poor communities, Ramos said.

“The program’s bottom-up approach, where people’s organizations themselves identify and manage their respective projects, has promoted participation and transparency in governance and empowered the beneficiaries and other ruralfolk,” Ramos said.

To date, there are 3,712 CFAD agri-based livelihood projects, of which 1,605 were completed, 574 are ongoing, 584 are ready for implementation, and the rest is under preparatory stage.

On a regional basis, regions 13 (Caraga) and 12 have the most number of MRDP-CFAD projects, worth P235 million. Region 12 has 765 projects, of which 389 are alredy completed and turned over to respective beneficiaries, mostly POs. Caraga has 689 projects, of which 356 were completed.

The other Mindanao regions and their respective MRDP-CFAD projects are: Region 10 - 767 projects, worth P232.21 M, of which 352 were completed; ARMM - 506 projects, worth P227 M; Region 11 - P157.5M, 531 projects; and Region 9 - P139.75 M, 444 projects.

“Aside from the number of completed CFAD projects, we are also glad that we are attaining our goal to benefit 30 percent of women and indigenous peoples (IPs),” Ramos added. To date, MRDP-CFAD projects have benefited a total of 30,913 IPs, or close to 25 percent of total beneficiaries, and 54,359 women, comprising 44 percent of total beneficiaries. (Sherwin B. Manual, DA-MRDP).

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Reference:

Dir. Lealyn Ramos 0919-2335737