COTABATO CITY — In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) turned over Php1.9-Million worth of agricultural tools and vegetable seeds packages to five (5) agricultural cooperatives from Maguindanao.
A total of 238 members of the five identified cooperatives will each receive a package of agricultural tools composed of 1 unit of knapsack sprayer, shovel, hoe, wheelbarrow, rake, and a watering bucket; and package sachets of seeds such as eggplant, pole sitao, cucumber, tomato, pumpkin, pepper, kangkong, ampalaya, and pechay.
During the turnover ceremony held here at the MAFAR Covered Court, Bangsamoro Government Center on June 9, MAFAR Minister Dr. Mohammad Yacob stressed that the continuous support of the Turkish government to the Bangsamoro region, like the provision of assistance to needy farmers, will not only have a “great impact on their (farmers) lives but it will also help realize the MAFAR programs on food security in the region.”
“We are very thankful to the people of Turkey for their unwavering support to us — from human capacity development, technical and educational assistance, and research enhancement to provisions of various agricultural inputs which will surely help improve both our human resources and farmers’ well-being,” said Minister Yacob.
In 2020, TIKA conducted assessments to several cooperatives in Mindanao and identified five (5) agricultural cooperatives in different municipalities of Maguindanao such as Upian Cooperative in Upi, Pamatuladan cooperative in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Tariken Aquaculture Producer Cooperative in Sultan Mastura, Baranggay campo Bangsamoro Agriculture Cooperative and Midpulo Farmers Associations bothe in General Salipada K. Pendatun passed the assessment and eligible to receive the agricultural tools and seeds.
The TIKA assistance is complementary to MAFAR interventions relative to high-value crop production aimed to increase the production and income of vegetable farmers in selected agricultural cooperatives through provision of agricultural tools and vegetable seeds in the region.
“I am sincerely hoping that this project will contribute to the prosperity of Bangsamoro farmers and their families, paving the way for further fostering of ties between Turkey and the Philippines, and more importantly, strengthen the friendship between the Turkish, Filipino, and the Bangsamoro people,” said TIKA Country Director Fahri Burak Aydoglu, represented by Project Assistant Albana Delna Mohammad.
Since its opening in the Philippines last 2015, TIKA has implemented various projects in the BARMM region such as, but not limited to, construction of 5 schools, 3 birthing clinics, provision of a mobile clinic, and annual distribution of Ramadan food packages. (Kasan M. Usop, Jr./BIO)
