A climate-resilient agriculture project targeting vulnerable farmers and fisherfolk in three Isabela municipalities formally kicked off with a project inception meeting in Tuguegarao City.
The Transformative Climate Resilient Agriculture (TCRA) Project will introduce mobile solar-powered irrigation pumps, cash-plus support and cash-for-work opportunities in San Pablo, Santa Maria and Santo Tomas.
The project is supported by the Australian Government and implemented in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Philippines and the Provincial Government of Isabela.
“The initiative comes as farmers and fisherfolk continue to face challenges from climate variability, drought, irrigation constraints, rising production costs and other shocks affecting agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.”
Isabela Governor Rodito Albano welcomed the initiative, saying it comes as farmers and fisherfolk continue to face challenges from climate variability, drought, irrigation constraints, rising production costs and other shocks affecting agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
Albano said the project aligns with the province’s priorities of strengthening food security, enhancing disaster resilience, promoting climate-smart agriculture and improving the well-being of vulnerable rural communities.
“The interventions should help ensure that development assistance reaches communities most in need.”
The governor also welcomed the project’s focus on smallholder farmers, fisherfolk, women-headed households and persons with disabilities, saying the interventions should help ensure that development assistance reaches communities most in need.
He highlighted the value of water-saving technologies, renewable energy solutions, climate-adaptive livelihood options, sustainable agricultural inputs, preparedness systems and capacity development under the initiative.
Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Atty. Christopher Mamauag said the provincial government is committed to working with FAO, municipal governments, national government agencies, farmers’ and fisherfolk organizations, cooperatives and other stakeholders to ensure effective project implementation, including beneficiary validation, planning, technical consultations and monitoring.
The project inception meeting brought together the project’s technical team and the Provincial Government of Isabela to discuss implementation and coordination for the initiative.
