Region XII, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, has kicked off a series of regional workshops and field validations this week as part of the $39.2 million Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) Project. This initiative is anchored on the Adaptation Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Program and aims to enhance the resilience of the Philippine agricultural sector against climate change.
The workshops, held from October 21 to 25, 2024, included courtesy visits to DA XII Regional Executive Director Roberto T. Perales and Cotabato Province Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza. Cotabato Province is set to be a key beneficiary of the APA project, which targets ten municipalities in the region based on four pillars of qualification.
The APA Project’s primary goal is to transform the Philippine agricultural system from a state of high vulnerability to one of climate resilience. It seeks to improve farmers’ capacity to establish Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) enterprises, promote the adoption of viable CRA practices, and train both government and private sector stakeholders to create robust support systems for scaling up these initiatives.
In a statement, the DA emphasized that the APA Project will significantly enhance the adaptive capacities of rural farmers, especially in areas severely affected by climate change. “By empowering those who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods, we are making strides toward a more resilient future,” the DA noted.
The series of planning workshops facilitated discussions on best practices and strategies to ensure effective project implementation. Participants included local government officials, agricultural experts, and representatives from the FAO, all working together to lay the groundwork for a sustainable agricultural framework.
With the APA Project, the DA aims to create a more resilient agricultural landscape in Region XII and across the Philippines, paving the way for a prosperous agricultural future amidst the challenges posed by climate change. 🌾
