Monday, May 14, 2012

MRDP earmarks P1.3B for farmers, fisherfolk livelihood


DAVAO CITY, May 14 --The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked multimillion funds for various to aid farmers, fisherfolk, women and indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

The DA’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) has already spent a total of P388.25 million for its livelihood arm.

While, another P345.37 million were downloaded to on-going projects and those ready for implementation; and a total of P412.30 million for those new projects under preparation by the People’s Organizations (PO) making the overall portfolio of CFAD to approximately P1.3 billion.

Program director Lealyn A. Ramos, in her report to DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, said the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component spent the amount mostly in food security interventions, community managed livelihoods and small support infrastructure.

The various livelihoods have benefitted a total of P124,816 households.

With the aim to increase agricultural production and increase incomes of small farmers, CFAD component is a municipal-based funding facility though which MRDP provides financing for the diverse needs and priorities expressed by poor communities.
“The bottom-up approach under the Program where the people’s organization themselves identify and manage the project has promoted participation and transparency in governance and prompted for the empowerment of many rural folks,” Ramos said.

To date, there are already 3,712 agri-based livelihoods funded. Some 1,605 were completed, 574 are still on-going and 584 are ready for implementation and the rest are under preparatory stage.

Caraga and Region 12 lead in the implementation with P235 million under its portfolio of 227 million for its 506 projects; Region 11 has a portfolio of P157.50 million with a total of 531 subprojects; and Region 9 P139.75 million for 444 projects.

“Aside from the number of completed subprojects, we are also glad that we are attaining our goal to benefit 30 percent of women and indigenous peoples,” Ramos added.

In its mid-term assessment, CFAD has benefited a total of P30,913 IPs or close to 25 percent of the total beneficiaries. While women count reaches 54,359 or close to 44 percent  of the total beneficiaries. (MRDP)


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