DA Bicol ups eco-efficiency of agri-fishery sector

PILI, Camarines Sur --- The Department of Agriculture-Bicol is banking on the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Project’s Climate Risk Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) to establish an eco-efficient agri-fishery sector.

Using an adaptive capacity tool based on the survey tool developed by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), a Consortium of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) center and leader of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security, the DA-Bicol AMIA Project has started conducting the CRVA in June 2019 to draft a map that will show vulnerable areas, climate hazards and crop models in the region from 2019 to 2050. Also, CRVA results will be used as basis in preparing investment briefs of climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices and interventions.

During the AMIA Monthly Meeting and Updating held on August 13, 2019 at the DA regional office here, Sandy B. Bobier, DA-Bicol AMIA Project Technical Staff, said that the CRVA is a tool that DA policy makers can use in planning and implementing long-term interventions to address climate risks. He mentioned that AMIA deployed 11 enumerators in the six provinces of Bicol to gather data on every municipality’s adaptive capacity indicators including economic capital, crop occurrence, and anticipatory systems and institutions. The CRVA also covers the natural capital, social capital, physical, institutional, human capital and health. The conduct of CRVA is being undertaken by the AMIA project in partnership with the DA-Bicol’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Bobier appealed to the concerned provincial and municipal offices to facilitate the CRVA process by providing accurate and timely information to the AMIA Project’s enumerators. AMIA conducted a series of provincial orientations on the CRVA process to the Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs) to rally support from the Office of the Provincial and Municipal Agriculturist, Provincial and Municipal Planning and Development Office and agricultural extension workers (AEWs).

The CRVA results, due for completion this September 2019 will be used as basis in identifying new AMIA villages in addition to the 11 existing AMIA model villages in Pamplona, Gainza, Tigaon and Buhi in Camarines Sur. Bobier added that upon project completion, AMIA will present the CRVA results to local policymakers through stakeholder consultation meetings for possible cross sectoral collaboration.

AMIA villages, are model communities in terms of technological and institutional innovations as well as access to climate-relevant support services. AMIA is the DA’s flagship program for climate adaptation and mitigation. Coordinated and managed by the Systems-Wide Climate Change Office, it is designed to establish climate-resilient agri-fishery communities nationwide.