Better stats and info tech for Pinoy farmers via Japan aid

Filipino farmers in various parts of the country will soon have greater access to technology that will boost food security in the country, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said over the weekend. In a statement, the embassy said Japan has approved P60.687-million in funding for a project to develop the access of Filipino farmers to agricultural statistics. The “Enhancing Farmers’ Capacity to Access, Analyze and Utilize Statistical Information" project falls under Japan Food Security Project for Underprivileged Farmers, formerly known as the 2KR Program. “For many years, small farmers especially in remote rural areas have conducted their farming business on a hit-and-miss basis due to lack of adequate information related to production and marketing of their products," the Japanese embassy noted. Under the project, the productivity, efficiency, and income of farmers will be boosted through setting up farmer-based agri-business information services, it said. The project proponent is the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, an agency under the Department of Agriculture responsible in helping consumers access and analyze trends in agriculture. The embassy said the project will be implemented for three years and intends to undertake various activities such as: — Designing a farmer-based information service; — Provision of training for farmers; — Installation of necessary information technology infrastructure; — Forging partnerships between government and non-government organizations; and — Establishment of economic classification system for Filipino farmers. Covered by the project are provinces like Benguet, Ifugao, Mt. Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Iloilo , Capiz, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon. “It is expected that the production and marketing analysis service component of the project will enhance service delivery to the farmers in the municipal and barangay levels of these target areas," the embassy said. It said that lack of access to information, situational analysis, production planning, and marketing decisions hindered farmers from achieving higher farm income. The embassy said this project hopes to address these issues and assist in empowering small farmers at the grassroots level. For the past 30 years, Japan’s 2KR Program has made a positive impact on the livelihood of Filipino farmers. - HS/TJD, GMANews.TV