DA seeks P575 M for Mindanao plan

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking P575 million to bankroll its Agriculture Action Plan for Central Mindanao (AACM) which seeks to assist farmers and fisherfolk displaced by the ongoing hostilities in the region.

DA Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban who oversees AACM, said about P500 million could come from the appropriations of the DA for this year and the budget for 2001, while the additional P75 million will be submitted for funding by the President’s Calamity Fund.

Panganiban said that despite budgetary constraints, Agriculture Secretary Edgardo J. Angara directed the immediate implementation of AACM shortly after it was hatched last July 24. The initial target was to provide assistance to about 16,000 families dependent on agriculture and fishery activities for their livelihood.

The AACM adopted prioritized targets based on the vulnerability to further armed conflicts and the presence of planned infrastructure development. Thus, in the five provinces covered (Cotabato Province, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur), 28 municipalities were classified as priority I and 66 municipalities as priority II.

To date, a total of 8,814 bags of certified seeds have been distributed to farmers in the priority areas, while 11,700 hybrid yellow corn seeds and 3,030 bags of hybrid white corn seeds have been dispersed.

To jumpstart food production, work animals such as carabaos, were dispersed to 819 farmers in the affected areas. In Cotabato City and Lanao del Norte, 206,000 tilapia fingerlings were seeded in rivers and tributaries, while fishing paraphernalia such as non-motorized bancas, bottom set long lines, gill nets, squid jigs and fish cages were also provided.

Panganiban said that as of Oct. 9, assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in the five provinces totaled P63.5 million.

To speed up implementation, Domingo said components of phase II of AACM are now being established. Two grains mechanical dryers worth P1 million are now operating in the municipality of Datu Sinsuat, Maguindanao. In addition, P10 million was granted for the construction of farm-to-market roads. Postharvest facilities for the fisheries sector such as seaweed solar dryer and two units of concrete fish smoke house were established.

Panganiban said the second implementation strategy is a "time-bound implementation schedule" which considers the urgency of the need for relief, recovery and restoration.

Under this component, phase I is almost completed while phase II, covering the recovery and restoration measures such as production and post harvest facilities and infrastructure, farm-to-market roads and market facilitation, will also be put up. This will run from November this year to December 2001.

The other basic farm inputs and equipment to be established are shallow tube wells and small water impounding projects for irrigation, rice threshers, corn shellers and mechanical dryers; multi-purpose drying pavements and mini-warehouses.

The DA is prioritizing assistance activities in Central Mindanao where more than 15,000 households were displaced from their homes and farm lots. Since the hostilities started, agricultural production in about 21,000 hectares of farmland were severely disrupted with losses reaching 41,000 metric tons of crops and 33,445 head of livestock and poultry. The total value of production loss is estimated at P193 million, excluding the loss in revenue due to reduced commerce and trade.