Rural farmers seen to boost income thru aid project

Small farm communities in three key provinces of Mindanao are seen to improve crop production and access to modern markets as a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-funded project was launched here last November to help small farmers boost income through agro-economic development.  
A total of at least 9,600 farmers in depressed farming communities of Bukidnon,
Cotabato Province and Maguindanao are expected to benefit from the expanded small
farms and marketing project (ESFMP), a project which aims to help small rural
farmers increase farm productivity and income through increased agricultural
production and improved market access.
ESFMP is a three-year project being implemented by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Philippines in partnership with five non-government organizations working closely with farming communities in Mindanao.  These are the Kaanib Foundation Inc. based in Impasug-ong (Bukidnon); Social Action Center of the Diocese of Malaybalay based in Bukidnon; Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc. based in Coatabato City ; Kasilak Development Foundation, Inc. based in Davao City, and Advocate for Philippine Fair Trade Inc. (APFTI) based in Quezon City.
In Region X, the Project’s covered areas are the towns of Impasug-ong, Sumilao,
Maramag, Pangantucan, Kalilangan, Kadingilan, Don Carlos, Quezon, and Lantapan,
and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia in Bukidnon.  In Region XII, ESFMP
covers the towns of Kidapawan, Makilala, Magpet, M’lang, and Pres. Roxas in
Cotabato Province ; and the towns of Isulan and Bagumbayan in Sultan Kudarat. In
ARMM, it covers the towns of Sultan Mastura, Upi, Sultan sa Barongis, Datu
Paglas, and General S.K. Pendatun.
Following the Davao City launching last November 6, the Project was also locally
launched in the participating municipalities in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat to
formalize its acceptance by host Local Government Units (LGUs) and target communities.  In Bukidnon, the provincial launching was held in Malaybalay City last  December 2 with Gov. Jose Maria Zubiri publicly accepting and pledging support for the Project. Closing the series of local launching events is the one Cotabato Province on December 14 to be hosted by the Kasilak Development Foundation, Inc. 
“It’s a great opportunity for CRS to expand the project so that more farmers in
Mindanao can benefit,” said Gonzalo Solares, CRS-Philippines Davao City Head of
Office, adding that the first CRS-USDA Project was successfully implemented in
Davao, Bukidnon, Maragusan, Compostela Valley and Zamboanga Sibugay in 2004-2007
with an extension phase covering 2008-2009. 
In implementing the project with partners, Solares said that ESFMP will use the
agro-clustering approach for farmers to market their products. It will also
provide technical assistance on production and marketing as well as small rural
infrastructures.
Pedro Terry Tuason III , CRS Agri-NRM program manager, said that the project
covers rice, cacao and coffee as focus crops.  He added that production of such
commodities is specifically targeted by the project to help address rice shortage
and for upland farmers to boost income from highly-marketable crops such as
coffee and cacao.
CRS shall adopt the cluster approach in agro-enterprise development and link
farmer clusters to appropriate institutional markets through collective marketing
arrangements. Tuason added that they are also looking at linking up with research
institutions and the academe for possible partnerships on agricultural research
and the promotion of a course on agri-entrepreneurship.
CRS, a Catholic-based international humanitarian agency with programs in more
than ninety countries, is working with local partner agencies to implement
various programs for the poor and disadvantaged communities.
“With the government’s thrust for Mindanao anchored on laying the strong
foundation for sustainable peace and development, it is rewarding to note that
this projection is clearly moving along this direction,” said Undersecretary
Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Council. [MEDCo]