DA projects reach 170 barangays in Cordillera

By Carlito Dar

BAGUIO CITY -- More barangays in Cordillera were beneficiaries of  development projects under the Department  of Agriculture’s   Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project  (CHARMP 2).

Department of Agriculture – Cordilllera CHARMP manager Cameron Odsey said from 107 highland barangays in Benguet, Mountain Province and Abra, CHARMP  on its second cycle of implementation  is  expanded to 170 barangays  to include  63 barangays  in the province of Kalinga, Apayao and Ifugao. There are 15 barangays in Apayao,  and  20 each in  Kalinga, and Ifugao.

CHARMP is a poverty alleviation project that focuses on highland communities that have high poverty incidence, poor accessibility and barely reached by agriculture-related programs. It aims to  increase farm family income of the rural poor in target areas, improve land tenure security, ensured food security, and  conserve and improve highland forests and watersheds based on sustainable practices.

Odsey reported under International Fund for Agricultural Development  and National Economic Development Authority  Supervision and Implementation Support, CHARMP 2  implementation  got a satisfactory overall rating.

In terms of agriculture, agribusiness and income generating assistance, Odsey reported total of P59.42 million livelihood assistance fund was granted and  35 farmers groups are now producing environmentally safe products to meet market demand and food security needs.

An additional 69 more farmers groups and 12 rural-based enterprises from six provinces have been sustainably linked to larger local markets, he added.

For rural infrastructure development, Odsey said since 2012, completed sub projects included 106 farm-to-market roads, (FMRs) 59 foot paths, 16 foot bridges, 43 communal irrigation system, 29 domestic water supply and 26 other community infrastructures such as solar dryers and warehouses.

For social mobilization participatory investment planning  and land tenure improvement, Odsey said  all PIP plans for the 170 project barangays were formulated and updated annually.

Participatory monitoring and evaluation teams were also formed to ensure transparency and accountability in implementation of the CHARMP sub projects.

To enhance watershed conservation in the region, the project aims to rehabilitate 8,500 hectares of community watersheds within the project barangays, as well as to establish agro-forestry to a total area of 2,000 hectares.

To date, Odsey reported the planting of around 8,500 hectares with over 14,000 seedlings of different tree species.

Some 163 people's organization  are implementing agro-forestry subprojects planting around 1,500 seedling of fruit trees and coffee  in  2,172 hectares.

Odsey said for better project management and coordination, meetings  are regularly conducted to thresh out issues and concerns affecting project implementation.