FAO okays 3 RP projects

MANILA, Philippines - The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an agency under the United Nations, approved recently three multimillion-dollar projects for the Philippines, Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier said.

Lhuillier, who serves as the Philippine Permanent Representative to the FAO, was informed about the projects by the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf during a testimonial luncheon held in his honor.

The first project is to increase rice yields and productivity through the promotion of small-scale irrigation and integrated crop management systems in rainfed areas. The executing agency will be the Department of Agriculture.

The objective is to jumpstart the development of small- scale irrigation in rainfed areas by showcasing the feasibility of such irrigation systems /technologies to increase rice yields and productivity.

The funds, amounting to 4.2 million euro($3.11 million), were sourced from the European Commission’s 1-billion euro food facility which was set up in 2008 to cope with the food price crisis experienced in 2007 to 2008.

However, the Philippines was considered by the European Commission as a second-tier beneficiary only due to the country’s relatively high level of economic development.

First-tier countries belonging to Africa were given priority in the grant.

The second project is for the immediate restoration of food security in flood affected region IV-A (Calabarzon) through the provision of agriculture and fisheries inputs and technical support.

The funds amounting to $ 857,000 will come from Spain but is being coursed through the FAO.

The project is expected to benefit 10,400 affected farmers.

The first two projects will run until 2011.

The third project is a technical assistance to help the Philippines on the diagnosis and management of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (also known as “mystery swine disease”) and other swine diseases to improve swine health.

The short-term project is worth $ 445,000.