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Monday, November 21, 2005
Japan pledges funds for plant nursery in autonomous region
KORONADAL CITY -- More than 10,000 farmers in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) are to benefit from a P4.9 million plant nursery that would be funded by the Japanese government.
Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki said the embassy recently approved the fund for the construction of a plant nursery in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
Last week, the Japanese official signed a contract with Sajid Druz Ali, the autonomous region's secretary for agriculture and fisheries, to formalize the said grant.
In a statement, Yamazaki said, the project amounting to US$86,750 (close to P5 million), would be funded through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) under Japan's Official Development Assistance.
Ali said that small farmers, especially those located in the island provinces where crop diversification method is considered necessary, have been facing difficulties in the search for quality planting materials in their localities.
He noted that presently, most of the certified seeds and planting materials suppliers are only located in the provinces of Davao and North Cotabato.
Because of the situation, most of the small farmers in Armm could not afford the high cost of hauling and transportation cost for they do not have sufficient capital, Ali said.
The autonomous region is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Basilan and the Islamic City of Marawi.
This was the first time the Japanese's GGP included the Muslim autonomous region.
The facility would be constructed at the autonomous region's Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Barangay Simuay in Sultan Kudarat town.
It is expected to be finished in April 2006 in time for the 50th anniversary of the two countries' normalization of diplomatic relations.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared 2006 as Philippines-Japan Friendship Year as part of the golden jubilee celebrations. (RBS)
(November 21, 2005 issue)
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