This is the first time that adaptation and mitigation initiative in agriculture (AMIA) will be implemented in Eastern Visayas targeting beneficiaries of Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD), a project that provides intervention to poor farmers not covered by regular programs.
“Through AMIA, we want farmers to mainstream climate resilient
measures meant to reduce losses arising from natural calamities. This is very
helpful because our region is very vulnerable to weather disturbances,” said DA
Eastern Visayas assistant regional director for operations Andrew Orais in an
interview on Thursday.
SAAD recipients will be provided with seeds varieties and other
inputs tolerant to impacts of climate change. Farmers will also be taught on
proven climate resilient practices in farming, said Orais.
A major component of the AMIA project is the national color-coded
farming guide map, which identifies crops that are most suitable in agriculture
parcels, and overlays soil properties, elevation, rainfall pattern,
temperature, and more importantly, the projected climate-induced multi-hazards.
The DA is eyeing a PHP1.37-billion outlay to assist less
privileged farmers in three Samar provinces under SAAD.
From 2016 to 2017, the department has already poured in nearly
PHP20 million to poor farmers not covered in regular programs of the central
government. The project focuses on improving production of rice, corn,
vegetables, and livestock.
The DA regional office is proposing PHP898.74-million budget for
SAAD projects for 2019 to 2022. The initiative aims to alleviate 37,669 farmers
from extreme poverty, said Orais.
DA aims to reduce poverty in Samar provinces by 25 percent in the
next three years from 55.4 percent in Eastern Samar, 43.5 percent in Northern
Samar, and 43.5 percent in Samar. (SQM/PNA)
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