Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) — Showcasing best practices in the agriculture sector will be the principal aim of a technical grant from the Asian Development Bank, according to the Department of Agriculture on Thursday.
Of the $2 million (P100-million), the agency said $1.49 million will fund the establishment of rice-based cluster farm models, two each for Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
“The aim of the farm clustering is to replicate the lessons learned from relevant projects or other undertakings in the Philippines, highlighting the importance of the participation of LGUs (local government units) and private sector as partners,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar, adding that this will apply relevant technologies used in countries like Japan, Vietnam and Thailand.
A portion of the grant, or $250,000, will be used to conduct mid-term evaluations of the Rice Tariffication Law and Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, the agency said.
The remaining amount will be spent for analyses and creation of a central database of key agriculture commodities like coconut, sugar, and pork for “timely-decision making on key agricultural policy issues,” said the DA.
