ROME-BASED INTERNATIONAL fund for Agricultural Development has earmarked about $93 million to fund Philippine agricultural and environmental projects until 2012.
In an interview, IFAD Philippines country program manager Sana F.K. Jatta said IFAD would focus on upland areas, agribusiness development and coastal resource management.
“For 2008, we have earmarked $27 million for the second phase of the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management program, which will start in April,” Jatta said on the sidelines of a donor’s forum hosted recently by the Department of Agriculture.
The first phase was implemented a year ago.
A special agency of the United Nations, the IFAD was established as an international financial institution in 1977, to finance agricultural development projects primarily for food production in the developing countries.
For 2009 to 2012, Jatta said IFAD has proposed to the Philippine government three main programs worth a combined $66 million.
One is the Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Program to address the development of upland areas, which will cost some $20-$26 million.
The second, worth $20 million, will focus on the National Agribusiness Development and Value Chain Development program to help farmers from the uplands bring their produce down to retail and wet markets.
The third project, worth $20 million, is the Coast Resources Management and Value Chain Development Program, with pilot operations expected to start in 2010 to 2012
From 1978 to 2007, IFAD had already implemented 10 projects in the Philippines worth some $125.7 million.
