FAO-led project aids farming, fishing households in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — At least 12,000 farming and fishing households in Mindanao have benefited from a nearly $6-million project that seeks to uplift livelihoods and welfare, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

The FAO said the beneficiaries of the Support to Agriculture and Agribusiness in Mindanao for Sustainable Development project were from 11 municipalities in Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and North Cotabato.

The project costs $5.97 million. Funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, it is being jointly implemented by the FAO and the Bangsamoro Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform.

“It targeted communities previously marred by conflict and violence, as well as those impacted by flooding and extreme climate conditions,” the FAO said.

“With the goal of attaining sustainable peace and development through inclusive growth, the project is the single largest project of FAO in Mindanao,” it added.

The project involved various capacity-building initiatives, technical assistance, climate resilience programs and the construction of warehouses and feedlots.

One of the projects supported 68 cooperatives in the region to promote sustainable and climate-resilient aquaculture.

One of the cooperatives, Tereken Aquaculture Producers Cooperative, suffered damage and losses due to typhoons. The cooperative lost 13,000 tilapia and hito or catfish that were swept from fish cages into the lake.

“With disaster preparedness as the cornerstone of the cooperative’s operations, they adapted to the use of floating fish cages to protect their fish stocks during flooding,” the FAO said.

“They have also developed business continuity plans to ensure quick recovery from climate extremes,” the FAO added.

The cooperatives also received training in fish processing, water management, fish feeding and cage design, according to the FAO.

Beyond fisheries, the project also included the construction of drying pavements, warehouses and a feedlot, the FAO said.

Some of the projects included a solar-powered warehouse in Barangay Looy, South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur, which expanded the storage and processing capabilities of the Looy Farmers Service Cooperative.

“We believe that investing in people is key to strengthening food security in the Bangsamoro region,” the FAO said.