Climate change is probably the biggest threat to the sustainable productivity of our farmers. This is felt all throughout the country and has been aggravated by unfair market practices and the proliferation of GMOs (genetically modified organisms). This is specifically experienced in the province of Tarlac.

Tarlac has a total land area of 305,345 hectares where 54.37% of these lands are used for agricultural activity. Agricultural crops and fisheries are allocated with 141,252 hectares of land. Specifically, the municipality of Capas has a total land area of 571 hectares where 27 hectares are allocated for legumes, 20 hectares for fruits and vegetables, and 524 hectares for root crops (UP Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc., 2010). Tarlac has an adequate and accessible space for sustainable food production, forest, and mineral resources. However, it is naturally prone to hazards like flash flood, soil erosion, and drought. These poses a challenge to the sustainable agricultural productivity of the Province.

The municipalities of Capas, Camiling and Bamban are most vulnerable to extreme drought and flooding which affects its agricultural sector. This is more so in Capas and Bamban due to lahar deposits being situated at the foothills of world-famous Mt. Pinatubo at the Zambales mountain range which erupted in 1992.

These conditions drove some farmers in Tarlac to abandon rice farming, sell or mortgage their farm lands and took odd jobs in city centers.

Upon discussions with farmer POs (people’s organizations) in Tarlac, the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA) together with Sibol ng Agham at Teknolohiya (SIBAT), funded by Department of Finance and the Italian Agency Development for Cooperation under the Development for Debt Swap Program, synergized their efforts and developed the Environment Protection and Poverty Reduction through Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture (EPPR-CReSA) project.

For this endeavor, the core technical approach will be anchored on the conversion of farming practice from chemical or conventional to organic farming systems applying climate adaptive technologies, while strengthening the organizational capacities and increasing the awareness and adaptabiity to climate change and disasters of farmer peoples’ organizations through capacity building and formation.

The EPPR-CReSA project also aims to ensure close working relationship with the government,  they being duty bearers and stakeholders of the project. Coordination and participation with LGU (local government unit) mechanisms such as the local development council will be carried out. LGUs will be enjoined  of  their support  especially in areas where they have the capacity to share resources on climate change and disaster risk reduction programs, vulanerability assessment research including facilities and equipment.

This 20-month initiative was formally launched last October 5, 2017 in Mangarita Organic Farm in Capas, Tarlac. It was attended by vaious stakeholders from the municipalities of Capas, Bamban and Camiling, as well as the representatives of the Department of Finance, Italian Agency Development, SIBAT and PhilDHRRA.

Now on its 6th month of implementation, the project sucessfully conducted mentoring sessions, organizational diagnosis, strategic planning and training workshops on organic agricultural technologies. These activities have contributed to the improvement of the farmers’ knowledge and application of organic farming and organizational management.

The remaining months will be allocated in the conduct of market study, thematic trainings, Participatory, Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (PVCA), production of Information, Education Campaign (IEC) materials and case study development.

Through these project components, the EPPR-CReSA project team aims to significantly contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic status of its farmer-partners through the promotion and adaption of climate resiient organic farming technologies.

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Germaine De Ruña is the Regional Coordinator of PHILDHRRA-Luzon.