UN launches agricultural programs at par with the ASEAN economy

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=11&rid=850731
• Thursday, January 28, 2016

(PNA), LAP/CD/MARK FRANCISCO

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PNA) -- The United Nations launched an agricultural program aimed at leveling the 11 agrarian communities in Mindanao into the standards set by the integrated Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economy here five days ago, an official said Tuesday.

Country Representative Benoit Thierry of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said that the project is known as Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (CONVERGE).

He said that the CONVERGE is a US$ 34.59 million project, which is expected to benefit a total of 300,512 farmers in Mindanao or around 54,628 households.

The project covers Region 9, which comprises the Zamboanga Peninsula, Region 10 comprising five provinces, and the Caraga Region with four provinces.

IFAD will assist the 11 communities through investment plan preparation, capacity building for the farmers, technology upgrading and diffusion, and cluster farming organization.

Thierry said that a business sector matching, extension services, quality control of the end products, credit/microfinance facilitation and post-harvest facilities and equipment are also part of the project.

“We will teach them certain cropping techniques to meet production targets, so they can be at par with the Asean standards,” Thierry said.

The Philippines had entered the integrated Asean economy just last year, he said.

The UN-IFAD has made its presence in the Philippines since 1978, bringing a total of US$ 244.4 million in 14 projects as an anti-poverty interventions. The project Thursday last week was the 15th, Thierry said.