Going Bananas - Restoring Livelihoods of Conflict Affected Farmers in Cotabato

This project aims to restore the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Cotabato region of Philippines by establishing a sustainable farming system facilitated by capacity building and a market value chain based on organic bananas.

Fiche signalétique

  • Département responsable Haute école des sciences agronomiques, forestières et alimentaires
  • Institut(s) HAFL Institut Hugo P. Cecchini
    Agronomie
  • Unité(s) de recherche Agriculture internationale et développement rural
  • Organisation d'encouragement Autres
  • Durée (prévue) 01.07.2020 - 31.12.2024
  • Responsable du projet Prof. Dr. Gurbir Singh Bhullar
  • Direction du projet Prof. Dr. Gurbir Singh Bhullar
  • Équipe du projet Prof. Dr. Gurbir Singh Bhullar
  • Partenaire Aidenvironment
    Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
  • Mots-clés Rural Livelihoods. Food Security, Poverty Alleviation, Sustainable Farming Systems, Participatory Technology Development, Capacity Building, Intercropping, Agroforestry, Organic Agriculture

Situation

The project region is a post-conflict area with a high level of poverty and food insecurity. Deforestation for unsustainable cultivation of annual (cash) crops has led to substantial erosion, run-off and land degradation. A lot of soil has been lost in the past decade leading to destruction and disappearance of drinking water sources of rural communities. Several decades of conflict has depleted the resources for optimal crop production as well as hindered the development of farming knowhow. As a result, the region has one of the highest incidence of poverty and food insecurity in Philippines. This project aims at reforesting the slopes with Banana grown together with other native plants and by implementing water harvesting and erosion control measures. The project applies participatory approaches for capacity building of local farmers as well as of the agricultural field staff.

Ce projet contribue aux objectifs de développement durable suivants

  • 2: Lutte contre la faim
  • 15: Protection de la faune et de la flore terrestres