Strengthening Implementation of Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA Project 1)

Project Description

The Department of Agriculture (DA) contracted the services of the Consortium composed of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines at Los Baños Foundation, Incorporated (UPLBFI) to strengthen its capacity in providing highly responsive (efficient and resilient) agriculture and fishery support services as envisaged in its Adaptation and Mitigation Initiatives in Agriculture (AMIA) program.

AMIA Project 1 is the first in a series of development initiatives under the AMIA Program. The services covered a series of studies that would set recommendations to make DA’s policies, planning, operations, monitoring, and evaluation functions related to its key mandates, namely, Research and Development (R&D), Agriculture and Fishery Regulation, and Agricultural Extension, Climate Change-resilient. The review of DA’s planning, monitoring and evaluation systems including the reformulation of Agriculture Rehabilitation Plan for Yolanda-Affected Areas and recommendations on systems and procedures to achieve CC-resiliency in DA’s plans and budget were conducted. Further, the technical services included the establishment and operation of an Integrated Climate Change Geographic Information System (ICCGIS) laboratory at the central office and the production of multi-hazard and crop suitability maps in support of DA’s functions; the review and formulation of policies on disaster risks reduction and management (DRRM); initial capacity building interventions to key DA officers; conduct of initial institutional assessment; and the conduct of special studies in support of above concerns.

Description of Actual Services Provided by SEARCA and UPLBFI

Consistent with the AMIA Program’s strategy of mainstreaming at the institutional level, the Project has six inter-related components.

Component 1. Key Agriculture and Fisheries (AF) Policies - This component addressed policy gaps in DA’s key mandates on agricultural research and development, extension and regulation regarding standards for infrastructure (FMR and irrigation). Special studies related to AF policies included renewable energy and water conservation and seed conservation and storage.

Component 2. Integrated Climate Change Geographic Information System (ICCGIS) - The component involved the establishment of a functional ICCGIS and the production of multi-hazard and crop suitability maps which are critical tools for policy formulation, planning and agricultural development operations. The maps and databases were completed towards the end of the project.

Component 3. Disaster Risks Reduction and Management (DRRM) in Agriculture - This component involved the review of DA and global practices and the formulation of policies on DRRM; documentation of good practices in DRRM; the production of guidebook on disaster warning communication; and the analyses on the use of drones for agricultural purposes including the development of prototype Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone.

Component 4. Landscape Planning in AF Development - This component initially reviewed the DA PME system and the Agriculture Master Plan for Rehabilitation of Yolanda- Affected Areas to ensure CC mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The review on PME CC resiliency and Yolanda Plan were based on available guidelines for CC resiliency and experiences both in and outside the country.

Component 5. Managerial and Technical Capacity Building – DA, with its bureaus and attached agencies, has more than 20,000 personnel. Further, DA has a mandate on technical supervision of LGUs (provinces, cities and municipalities) on agricultural development and extension matters. The Project is cognizant that the achievement of 100 percent CC resilient plans, budget and operation would require capacitation/re-orientation of all personnel within the DA and the agricultural offices of LGUs. This requires significant resources and phased medium term interventions, which can constitute a program by itself. Aware of this fact and resource limitation, the Project adopted a strategic capacity building approach. The approach focused on developing CC champions (among management and technical personnel) and a core team of trainers within the DA, which can, for the short term, sustain the momentum of capacity building on CC resiliency within the DA and to a limited extent, to LGUs. The project provided domestic training and study tours in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Component 6. Project Management, Program Development Plan and Institutional Assessment - The component provided overall direction and management in the implementation of AMIA Project 1. Additionally, the component formulated a Program Development Framework Plan to guide the DA in its future resource mobilization activities. Further, based on the results of policy, ICCGIS, strategic landscape planning and DRRM studies, the component conducted institutional assessment and recommendations for implementation arrangements.