The Value-chain Innovation for Sustainable Transformation in Agrarian Reform Communities (VISTA) Project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is expected to enhance the economic well-being of farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region 12 (Soccsksargen) and promote sustainable agriculture.

In a news release Wednesday, DAR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office Assistant Secretary Rene Colocar said the PHP8.02-billion project, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) aims to strengthen inclusive value chains, promote sustainable farming practices, and improve food security in vulnerable upland communities.

The project will be implemented for six years, from 2025 until 2030, and is seen to ultimately contribute to peace and development in the targeted regions.

Colocar noted that the project will provide comprehensive support to agrarian reform communities (ARCs), covering all aspects of the farming process, from seed selection to market access.

“Under this project, cacao and coffee are the priority crops for 70,000 households in ARCs and adjacent non-agrarian reform communities in the two regions,” he said.

“We will also promote diversified farming to allow farmers to continue harvesting and earning while waiting for the yields of these priority crops,” he added.

Colocar said the project will provide farmers with essential support, including farm machinery, irrigation systems, post-harvest facilities, and farm-to-market roads.

It also prioritizes inclusivity, targeting 50 percent of women beneficiaries, 30 percent from the indigenous community, and 20 percent from the youth sector.

To guarantee its long-term impact, DAR will collaborate with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and local government units.

DAR said the project aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of rural development under the leadership of Secretary Conrado Estrella III. (PNA)