A Lifeline for Farmers Facing a Warming World
A major $39.2-million project has just been launched to help Filipino farmers stand strong in the face of climate change. This project, supported by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will reach 100 towns across the country, helping communities protect their farms and reduce pollution that harms the planet.
The Department of Agriculture, PAGASA, and the FAO are carrying out the Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) Project.
A big part of the funding—$26 million—comes from the Green Climate Fund. The Philippine government is also pitching in with another $12.9 million. Over the next seven years, the project team will use this money to help farmers grow food in ways that benefit both people and the planet.
Some of the areas that will get support are Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, Cagayan, Isabela, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Bukidnon, Cotabato, and other parts of Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen.
Better Tools, Smarter Farming
One of the main goals of the project is to teach farmers about something called Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA). This is a smart way of farming that helps people grow crops even when there’s too much rain, or not enough.
Many of the farmers who will benefit are from small, poor communities. The project team will give them new tools and better information to help them decide what and when to plant. The idea is to help them adjust their farming methods so they don’t lose their harvests when the weather changes suddenly.
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To do this, the government will improve a tool called the Agro-Climatic Advisory Portal. This is like an online weather helper made especially for farmers. It gives climate updates and advice on what crops are best for each season. With better information, farmers can avoid crop loss and earn more money.
Alongside these updates, the project team will teach farmers new tools and methods. These use less water, keep the soil healthy, and lower carbon emissions. These changes will make farms stronger and ready for changing weather.
Real Impact on People and the Planet
This large-scale project is expected to help a lot of people. About 205,000 farmers will directly benefit by using new farming practices and tools. The project team expects another 45,000 farmers to take part in new business activities, called agri-enterprises. These businesses will use CRA methods and focus on crops that are important in each area.
But that’s not all. Around 5 million farmers will also benefit indirectly. This means they might not be part of the training themselves, but they’ll get access to the same weather updates and farming tips through the upgraded climate platforms. Meanwhile, the project team will directly help 1.25 million people from vulnerable farming families those who often get hit hardest by floods or droughts—improve their farms and incomes.
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As these efforts grow, the project team expects to help the country cut down about 218,875 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. That’s a small but meaningful slice—about 0.033 percent—of the Philippines’ total promise to cut pollution between 2020 and 2030. This promise is known as the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC.
The project is not just about protecting crops. It’s also about protecting communities, saving nature, and making sure the next generation can still grow food, earn a living, and enjoy the land.
