FAO conducts revalidation mission

FOOD and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is now conducting a revalidation mission in the Cordillera to determine the priority needs it will support for the agriculture sector.

Chris Baker, FAO Program Development specialist, said the current mission is being undertaken four months after the occurrence of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng to determine local development projects to support the livelihood of small scale farmers or the poorest farmers.

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Included under this category are farmers cultivating less than two hectares.

Dr. Evelyn Esquejo, Assistant National Director of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), is assisting Baker in the ongoing FAO mission in the Cordillera region.

In a meeting with the DA-RFU-CAR directorate and key personnel on high value crops, rice, corn, livestock and fisheries last February 8, Baker said the focus of aid donors are now directed towards the rehabilitation needs of the Republic of Haiti.

“However, in view of the economic disaster inflicted by the previous typhoons in the Philippines, we are carrying out this mission to determine how FAO can assist small farmers in their transition from disaster to early recovery,” Baker explained.

A review of the cost of damage and losses inflicted by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng to agriculture and forestry in the Cordillera amounted to a staggering P2.2 billion. The cost for rehabilitation and mitigation assistance for both sectors was immediately proposed to the international financing institution by the Department of Agriculture.

Damages and losses to both sectors were caused by strong winds and heavy downpour causing erosion and soil run-off, silt and gravel movement downstream, flooding, and expanded river beds. The typhoons destroyed rural infrastructures such as irrigation, farm-to-market roads, footpaths, tramlines, rice paddies, vegetable terraces, standing crops, greenhouses, crop nurseries, and livestock sheds.

In prioritizing development needs for FAO’s assistance in the Cordillera, the DA-RFU-CAR through director Cesar Rodriguez zeroed in on highland vegetables and heirloom rice, small irrigation projects, Arabica coffee, establishment of inland fishery hatcheries for indigenous and locally adopted fishes, and livestock dispersal on swine, poultry and small ruminants.

Baker also considered the agency’s proposal to establish community seed silos or storage centers that would ensure the availability of rice seed stocks every cropping season or when disasters occur.