Japan funds P4.4-B aggie, agrarian reform project

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Japanese government launched here yesterday a P4.4-billion agriculture and agrarian reform development project that would benefit close to 70,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in 205 barangays in 25 towns in Mindanao.

Dubbed as “Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agricultural Development Project (MinSAAD), the program funded by a loan assistance from Japan is designed to increase the agricultural productivity and income of agrarian reform beneficiaries and other marginal farmers through small-scale agricultural infrastructure such irrigation facilities, post-harvest facilities, farm-to-market roads, and capacity-building support.

Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Lualhati Antonino said the five-year MinSAAD project is a welcome development for Mindanaoans, as it seeks to increase competitiveness and ensure viable and sustainable agriculture development in 12 selected settlement areas in Mindanao.

Aside from Antonino, Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Assistant Secretary Howard Cafugauan, and Counselor Koichi Ibara of the Japanese embassy’s consular office in Davao attended the ceremonial launching of the MinSAAD project here yesterday.