BDA in Central Mindanao conducts Agricultural Survey
The Bangsamoro Development Agency- Central Mindanao Region (BDA-CenMin) conducts Technical Survey on Agricultural Sector under its Community Development for Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD-CAAM) project on April 15-17, 2013 at the 13 Barangays of Sultan Mastura Municipality.
Composing the Survey Team were BDA staff namely, Engr. Mansur Panalangin, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Officer under CD-CAAM project, Mohaliden Akmad, Regional Project Operation Officer and Ibrahim Sali, Regional Coordinator; IC Net Coordinator Lily Yusoph; and JICA expert Shingho Furuichi.
Through conducting Focus Group Discussions with key stakeholders at the barangay level, the study was aimed to determine the current status of the major agricultural products such as corn, rice, coconut and other products present and to draw a deeper understanding of the agricultural situation of each target barangay.
“The development of primary industries such as agriculture and fisheries, which are the core means of livelihood in the conflict affected areas in Mindanao, will play a key role in boosting the livelihoods”, stressed Hashim Manticayan, Regional Manager of BDA Central Mindanao Region.
Initial results of the survey show that the incomes of the people in the said municipality are depending largely on agriculture to which 80 % of the population are tenants and farm laborers.
The rice fields are approximately 1,237 hectares for irrigated and 809 hectares of rain fed. Corn and Vegetable fields constitute the remaining agricultural land./Mohaliden Akmad-Regional Project Operation Officer (Agriculture), BDA CenMin
