DA turns over climate-smart farm projects in Capiz

By Mariela Angella Oladive

PONTEVEDRA, Capiz — The Department of Agriculture turned over climate-resilient farm machinery, equipment, and support facilities to farmers’ associations during the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture Program benchmarking activity here on July 30.

The assistance included a PHP 2.6 million hauling truck for the Binujosan Farmers Association.

The Numancia AMIA Village Farmers Association received a PHP 1.8 million delivery van.

The Calaan AMIA Village Farmers Association received a PHP 235,000 cultivator.

The DA also distributed two rainwater harvesting facilities worth PHP 50,000 each to the Banga and Batan AMIA Village Farmers Associations.

Five fishing nets worth PHP 15,000 each were also turned over to the Binujosan and Numancia associations.

The agency inaugurated an AMIA Training Center in Binujosan to strengthen climate-smart agriculture training and capacity-building efforts in the province.

The DA funded the building’s ground floor at a cost of PHP 1.7 million.

The municipal government financed the second floor at a cost of PHP 1.5 million.

The benchmarking activity brought together AMIA Village leaders, local government units, development partners, and DA officials.

Participants exchanged best practices and discussed strategies for strengthening climate-smart agriculture in farming communities.

DA Climate Resilient Agriculture Office Director Agnes Catherine Miranda said sustained collaboration among the national government, local government units, the private sector, the academe, and farmers is essential to the long-term success of climate adaptation initiatives.

“We need each other—the national government, local government units, the private sector, and the academe—to keep this moving,” Miranda said, noting that the AMIA Program receives about PHP 350 million annually for nationwide implementation.

She said investments from local government units and development partners help expand the program’s reach and increase its impact on farming communities.

Miranda also cited bokashi fertilizer production as one of the AMIA Program’s successful climate-smart enterprises.

She said the initiative helps improve soil health, increase farm productivity, and provide farmers with additional income opportunities.

DA Western Visayas Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Zarlina Cuello said research, extension services, and field operations must work together to ensure agricultural interventions respond effectively to farmers’ needs.

Cuello said stronger coordination among stakeholders would also accelerate the adoption of new farming technologies across rural communities.

Capiz Gov. Fredenil Castro also turned over a certificate of ownership for a PHP 200,000 rice mill to the Binujosan Farmers Association.

Castro urged the association to manage the rice mill as a shared enterprise to maximize its benefits for all members.

Guillermo Alvarez, president of the Binujosan Farmers Association, said the AMIA Program has strengthened farmers’ resilience by introducing climate-smart technologies and support services.

He said the association’s adoption of the System of Rice Intensification has increased rice production while reducing production costs.

Launched in 2013, the AMIA Program is the DA’s flagship initiative for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The program promotes climate-resilient farming technologies, diversified livelihoods, and integrated support services for farming communities.

Western Visayas currently has 16 established AMIA Villages, including 13 under Phase 2 and three under Phase 3.

The region recently ranked first nationwide in physical and financial accomplishments during the AMIA Program’s midyear assessment.

The ranking highlighted Western Visayas’ implementation of climate-resilient agriculture initiatives.