14 October 2006, Nalapaan - Two women farmers attending Farmer Field School (FFS) consulting a collection of pests and beneficial insects that are the natural enemies of the pests and serve as eco-friendly pesticides.
FAO Project: OSRO/PHI/501/JPN - Emergency rehabilitation of agri-based livelihood for disadvantaged farmers and returning internally displaced people in Mindanao. The general objective is to respond to the call of the Government of the Philippines (GOP) for assistance in bringing about food security in the rural households, especially the families most seriously affected by the crisis in Mindanao, with fervent hope that this will lead to long-term stability in the area. This project will also help the government in its campaign on alleviating poverty among disadvantaged families in remote areas of Mindanao. The objective of the project is to assist the Government of the Philippines in coming up with the following: * Conduct needs assessment of the affected farming communities that shall be the basis in coming up with the sustainable agri-based livelihood program to address household food security; * Provide assistance to local government units in resettling Internally Displaced People (IDPs) from their original homes to other more suitable areas; * Provide the basic agricultural inputs (seeds, fertilizer and hand tools, small equipment and implements) in order to improve their capacity to produce food for their families; * Enhance the capability of farmers' and promote self-reliance through the promotion and development of sustainable agricultural practices including cooperative management and marketing assistance.