The Adaptation, Mitigation and Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol hosted the Benchmarking Cum Roving Workshop of Climate Resilient Agriculture Office (CRAO), and Regions 7 and 13 on August 12-16, 2024 to provide a platform for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and best practices between the participants and beneficiaries of AMIA Program in Region 5.
Over 42 AMIA Focal Person, program implementers, Agriculturists, Agricultural Technicians, Municipal and Provincial Local Government Unit representatives, farmer-beneficiaries of AMIA Village, and DA Personnel participated in the said activity.
DA CRAO Planning Officer Wendy Dunasco said that “ang AMIA gumagalaw po nationwide. Kasama natin ang dalawang rehiyon para saksihan at tignan ano ba ang meron sa mga AMIA Villages sa Region 5. Para makita rin nila kung ano yung pwede nilang ma adapt, pwede nilang gayahin at higit sa lahat ano din yung pwede nilang mabitbit sa Region nila at ano rin yung pwede nilang ibahagi sa atin.”
AMIA-Bicol showcased the AMIA Villages established by Cagbunga, Veneracion, Tampadong (CVT) Agri Resilient Farmers Organization Inc. in Pamplona, Camarines Sur; Joroan Farmers and Fisherfolks Association (JFFA) in Joroan, Tiwi, Albay; and Purok Palayan AMIA Village Dinapa Farmers Association (PPAVDFA) in Barangay Dinapa, Castilla, Sorsogon.
OIC-Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations and AMIA-Bicol Focal Person Lorenzo Alvina emphasized that members of the community are key players in securing funds for a project and that the effort to ensure long-term success is through consistency.
“Kung may kaunti kang pera, may kaunti kang savings, may inaasahan ka sa negosyo ninyo, may masasandalan kayong kooperatiba, yun siguro ang magpapaunlad ng mga komunidad lalo na nung mga nasimulan,” he added.
During the visit to the three AMIA Villages, AMIA Bicol Assistant Focal Person Sandy Bobier presented and turned-over the AMIA Tool Kit which is intended to program implementers.
“If the PLGU or MLGU plans to expand AMIA villages in their respective municipality, this will serve as their guide kung papano ma-i-empower ang ating program implementers especially the Agricultural Extension Workers”, he added.
In Joroan, Tiwi, Albay, the participants witnessed the opening of the P4M worth Multi-Crop Processing Facility (MCPF) with P1.04M worth of processing equipment from the Integrated Rural Development Foundation, Inc. (IRDF) which will benefit the 40 farmer-members of JFFA.
The PPAVDFA in Dinapa, Castilla, Sorsogon also showed the ongoing construction of their P4M worth MCPF which will benefit the 40 farmer-members of their association. IRDF Executive Director Arze Glipo also turned-over the Business Plan and equipment worth over P805, 993 as a start-up for the association once the facility is finished.
Aside from the AMIA Villages, the group also visited the Albay Provincial Agriculture Office (APAO), Cabangan, Camalig, Albay and facilities in the DA Regional Office in San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur.
One of the participants, Eduardo M. Luspo from Region XIII, said that it was a great opportunity and exciting to participate in a benchmarking activity as he was able to gain some farming techniques and share their best practices with other farmers. Luspo added that the AMIA Villages in Bicol are different from the ones they have in their Region. “Hindi namin akalain na ganito pala dito, may mga facilities. Salamat sa AMIA, sa lahat ng impormasyon na natanggap namin. Ganito pala kalawak ang programa nila. Salamat sa DA”,-Eduardo M. Luspo,
Since 2017, the DA RFO 5 AMIA Program has established 15 AMIA Villages in the six provinces of Bicol. These villages are at various phases of implementation, and some served as models worth replication. DA RFO 5 has also piloted decision support tools such as the Climate Information Services (CIS), and Agro-climate and Advisory Portal (ACAP). (ZANDRA G. ABOGADO, Photos by: Z. Abogado and Hermito Privaldos DA-RAFIS 5)