Programme area. In view of the importance of rice as the staple food of the Philippines, the RaSSFiP project will target paddy-producing areas in Regions 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas) and 10 (Northern Mindanao). The IRPEP project will cover selected communal irrigation systems (CISs) in regions 8 and 10. Target group. RaSSFiP will target poor paddy farmers in regions 5, 6, 8 and 10, which will otherwise have a deficit in certified inbred seeds for the dry season of 2009. To minimize transaction costs, the seeds will be acquired in the same regions, and only if there is a deficit will more be acquired from growers in regions 2, 3 and 11. About 763,889 households (about 3.8 million people) are expected to benefit from the certified inbred seeds. The target group for IRPEP is irrigator’s associations on communal irrigation systems (CISs) in the focus provinces to be covered by Rice Self Sufficiency Plan including, but not limited to regions 8 and 10, who requested system rehabilitation and mobilized counterpart funds. About 6,477 farmers (32,000 people) will be expected to benefit from improved irrigation facilities. Programme objectives. The overall goal of RaFPEP is sustainable food security for paddy farming households in targeted provinces. The objective of RaSSFiP is increased paddy production in targeted provinces of regions 5, 6, 8 and 10, during the 2009 dry season. And the objective of IRPEP is to improve irrigated paddy productivity and production on selected CISs in focus provinces to be covered under RSSP. Programme description. The programme consists of two separate, but mutually dependent, subprogrammes: the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFiP) and the Irrigated Rice Production Enhancement Project (IRPEP). RaSSFiP has two components: (i) acquisition and distribution of certified in-bred paddy seeds for the 2009 wet season crop; and (ii) programme management. IRPEP has five components: (i) strengthening of irrigation associations; (ii) provision of production inputs and related support services; (iii) irrigation and rural infrastructure development and maintenance; (iv) marketing and post-harvest development; and (v) programme management and policy dialogue.
Important features. The Philippines is at the epicentre of the soaring food prices that emerged in 2008 as a major global crisis. The Government has taken up the challenge of regaining rice self-sufficiency and controlling soaring food prices by putting together the 2009-2013 Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan. In view of the urgency of addressing current food supply and availability difficulties linked to soaring food prices before they become a full-fledged crisis of food supply and availability for consumers, IFAD has undertaken to fast-track its support to the Government of the Philippines under a joint donor coordinated response. The proposed Rapid Food Production Enhancement Programme has been prepared in the framework of the new rice production initiative launched by the Government. The programme is intended to contribute to the Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan by focusing on two key aspects of the plan, namely secure good quality seed supply and irrigation rehabilitation and development. The programme, which is in line with the IFAD Strategic Framework 2007-2010, has several innovative features. First, it packages an urgent response to prevent an emergency by supplying seeds rapidly to increase paddy production immediately, with a medium-term irrigation rehabilitation effort for increased and sustained food production. Second, the financial package enables IFAD funds for the urgent phase to be replenished by the Government and the local government units through the normal annual general appropriation act and other relevant budget processes, and re-used for the second phase. Thus, IFAD will finance the urgent phase and play a catalytic role in funding its follow-up. Third, the programme supports a Government sector-wide programme, thereby enabling both IFAD and Government to fast-track processing in a manner that could serve as a model. Cofinanciers. Discussions ongoing with the European Commission (EC) regarding additional funding for the seed sub-programme. FAO has provided a grant of US$ 0.5 million to co-finance IRPEP. |
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