Highland Agriculture Development Project

Highland Agriculture Development Project

This project marked a shift in IFAD’s priorities in the Philippines from lowland-irrigated to highland-rainfed farming, in line with the government’s development policies. Initiated by the Asian Development Bank, this was virtually the first agricultural project in the area to be supported by external investments.
Coping with rugged terrain, inadequate soil and water resources and lack of easy access to markets, farmers in the area cultivated the land mainly on the subsistence level. In Mountain Province 94 per cent of farms were less than 1 ha in size, and 75 per cent less than 0.5 ha. The incidence of rural poverty, particularly among the three ethnic groups of indigenous peoples, was high. Undernutrition in the two provinces was markedly higher than the national average. Despite conditions that limited farming, Benguet Province in particular and, to a lesser extent, Mountain Province were an important source of temperate vegetables, with a significant potential for increased production.

The project’s design emphasized participation of farmers in planning an implementing activities, and promoted development of technologies that could be adapted to existing farming systems and social contexts.

The main objectives were to:

• intensify agricultural production, mainly of vegetables and rice
• contribute to agricultural diversification
• strengthen local institutions and promote active participation of farmers
• improve the income and nutritional level of small farmers
• help reduce regional disparities
• create rural employment opportunities
• develop a long-term strategy for development of highland agriculture

The basic project strategy was to maximize the existing productive potentials of the area by improving irrigation systems, providing agricultural support services, improving market facilities and exchanges of information, and constructing and rehabilitating rural roads. Both at local and national levels, it emphasized building institutional capacity.

Source: IFAD