Government inks P4-B deal with Japan

The government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) have signed a P4-billion project that would provide support services and infrastructure to some 69,000 farmers in Mindanao, a senior agrarian reform official said.

Undersecretary Jerry Pacturan, of the Department of Agrarian Reform, said the government and Jica have agreed to launch the Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development Project (Minsaad).

5-year program

The five-year program will have funds of P4.4 billion and will benefit farming communities in Mindanao.

“The project is in line with the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) aimed at developing a competitive, sustainable and technology-based agriculture sector to ensure food security, increase farmer’s income, attract investments and generate employment opportunities,” Pacturan said.

Pacturan said the project seeks to improve agricultural production in 11,620 hectares of farmlands.