The irrigators associations (IAs) in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte are set to benefit from the International Fund for Agricultural Development-European Government (IFAD-EU).
This, after the IFAD team headed by Youquiong Wang, the new Country Programme Manager, visited Region 10 to see various IA’s, as well, as to assess the implementation of the Irrigated Rice Production Enhancement Project (IRPEP) projects in the region.
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), National Food Authority (NFA) and the local government units (LGUs), the IRPEP aims to improve productivity and production of irrigated paddies on selected communal irrigation systems (CIS) covering Regions 8 and 10 with a total area of about 5,000 hectares in 3 years.
Regional Executive Director Lealyn A. Ramos of DA-Regional Field Unit 10, said IRPEP has five (5) components: strengthening of IA’s, irrigation and rural infrastructure, provision of production inputs and related support services, marketing and development, and monitoring, evaluation and program management.
Ramos said NIA is the lead agency in the implementation of the IRPEP and in strengthening the IA’s for both organizational and operational management on the rehabilitation of the CIS in collaboration with the DA-RFU, NFA, the beneficiary LGU, the concerned IAs and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
The project also includes upgrading of existing NFA warehouses in support to certified seed buffer stocking undertaken by DA-RFUs.
She also said the needed extension activities in improving agricultural productivity will be provided by the ATI including, among others, the Farmers Field School (FFS) and Training of Trainors (TOT) for LGUs and the farmers.
Meanwhile, the social responsibilities of the San Juan Impasug-ong La Fortuna Irrigators Association (SILFIA) in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon gave a positive impression to the IFAD group that men and women are equally given opportunities to participate in the organization’s activities and decision making.
More so, they saw that women empowerment was practiced since often times women attended meetings while their men were out tending their farms. In the process, women are exposed to community interaction and decision-making.
With Wang in the visiting team were Michael Rayner, IFAD Consultant and Yolando C. Arban, IFAD Country Program Officer and mission team leader. [PIA 10]
