Upland farmers benefit from ADB livelihood project

By Ed Magboo
MediaCore, PCARRD

Local upland farmers currently benefit from the regional technical assistance program called Livelihood and Livestock System Project granted by the Asian Development Bank.

The three-year project that would last until next year aims to improve the livelihood of upland farmers through the development of more efficient crop-livestock systems using participatory approaches.

As a regional project, LLSP involves four other developing countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the People's Republic of China.

The Philippine project is coordinated by the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development.   PCARRD collaborates with regional field units of the Department of Agriculture, academic institutions, local government units, and non-government organizations in focal sites.

The project aims to contribute to poverty reduction among upland farmers in Northern Mindanao and Cagayan Valley.  This is implemented through development of new and improvement of existing forage feed systems and providing capability building training programs to LGU technicians and farmers.

The program develops the ability of upland farmers in technology transfer, project monitoring, and evaluation activities.

Out of a total cost of $2.105 M, 45 percent is ADB grant, 14 percent came from the Center for International Tropical Agriculture, and 41 percent from the developing member countries. 

After three years, small upland farmers in the focal sites are expected to have adopted integrated feeding systems for livestock that optimize the use of improved and indigenous fodder and crop residues.

CITA coordinates the project.