MAFAR, UN-FAO SIGN LOA ON IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL TRAINING IN BASULTA

COTABATO CITY | July 22, 2021

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform and Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nation entered into a Letter of Agreement (LOA) on the implementation of project for agricultural training for the establishment of peace in Mindanao.

Funded under the government of Japan with 4.7Million budget, the program will provide services to enhance the technical and vocational skills of farmers and fisherfolk in the Island Provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Minister Mohammad S. Yacob signed the LOA on 22 July 2021 at the Office of the Minister, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.

The LOA recognizes the implementation of the 26 training batches on agriculture and horticultural courses and basic Agri-entepreneurship embedded for each training course and livelihood and other skill trainings.

Under the LOA, there are 520 targeted project beneficiaries that composed of former combatants and immediate families, BIWAB women, small holder farmers and fisherfolk, IndigefanousPeople, out-of-school youth and former JICA-MDLIP beneficiaries.

Minister Yacob acknowledges FAO for their unending support to the regional government and the Government of Japan for funding the project. The ministry will support the farmers and fisherfolk to enhance their technical and entrepreneurial skills to improve their livelihoods employment.

On hand to witness the signing of the LOA were FAO Project Team Leader Mr. Ruben Miranda together with Director for Agriculture Ismail Guiamel, Asst. to the Minister for Special Concerns Pendatun Patarasa.

Further, Miranda’s Team is committed to provide guidance to the MAFAR for the efffective implementation of the training program to achieve the project objectives in the Island Provinces of BARMM.