QUEZON CITY, December 15, 2021 – The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Philippines said it will donate Quick Impact Projects (QIP) to farmers and fisherfolk of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program.

New TIKA Country Director Fahri Burak Aydoğdu discussed with DA-SAAD Director Myer Mula, Deputy Director Ulysses Lustria, Jr., and staff that the projects will target vulnerable communities to address their agricultural and fishery production needs.

“You (DA-SAAD) are a perfect match for that (QIPs),” he added as TIKA’s projects have a similar purpose as to those implemented by the program.

Some of the potential projects Dir. Aydoğdu shared were on cacao, coffee, mushroom, rambutan, duck, and crab production as well as fishing equipment. He also mentioned possible project areas in Mindanao such as Cotabato, Agusan del Sur, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Visayas such as the Negros island provinces and Bohol.

He also mentioned agroforestry (an integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems) as a possible proposal.

In addition, three-year plan projects are also encouraged to cover the development of agri-enterprises.

Dir. Mula is pleased with the continued partnership as it will forward SAAD’s enterprise development goal to lift the farmers and fisherfolk from poverty.

In February 2021, the DA-SAAD submitted project proposals to former TIKA Country Director Mustafa Kerimoğlu.

However, Dir. Aydoğdu suggested resubmitting proposals which include the commodities and locations he mentioned. He will then endorse these to the agency’s head office for selection.

SAAD’s partnership with TIKA

In 2017, TIKA opened its doors to the DA-SAAD through the TIKAbuhayan Program, which aims to support sustainable production facilities across the Philippines, targeting indigenous people communities and comparatively less developed or disaster-prone areas.

In September 2019, TIKA provided 24 mares, 6 stallions, and technical training to Katablangan Indigenous Farmer’s Association and the Nanawatan Nabuangan Upland Developer Association from Conner, Apayao. Since their communities can only reach by foot, the horses helped the beneficiaries easily transport their products to the town center.

In August 2020, TIKA also turned over Php 1.3 million worth of four rice threshers, 13 pump and engine sets, five grass cutters, two rice reapers, and two hand tractors to Tabi Rice Planters Association from Balangkayan and San Pedro Farmers Association from Quinapondan, both in Eastern Samar. ###

Writer: Jhomai Canlas, DA-SAAD Public Relations and Communications Head