Progress of 2KR-funded projects assessed

The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) participated in a three-day “Performance Assessment and Planning Workshop” on the Japanese Government 2KR-assisted projects being administered by the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC). The planning workshop was called to assess the progress and development of the 2KR-funded projects and how such undertakings are being implemented across the country. The activity is aimed at firming up plans, targets and resolving issues and problems pertaining to the projects’ activities. Synthesizing the various modes of project implementation by the proponents themselves will address the economic and social impacts of the projects to individual farmers and fisherfolk, and to the communities as well.

The 2KR (Kennedy Round 2), now known as the Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers, is a grant facility designed to assist developing countries, like the Philippines, in achieving food sufficiency through food augmentation plans and program. The assistance comes in the form of grants-in-aid, which is used to procure farm inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, farm machinery and other agricultural equipment. The recipient country monetizes (sells) these farm inputs and the peso proceeds are used to finance agricultural projects.

The Philippine Government, for the past two decades, has availed of the 2KR Program under the supervision and administration of NAFC, which is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), that assists the government in generating resources to support the implementation of policies, programs and projects which are geared toward the development of the agriculture and fisheries sector.

Ms. Elgie Namia, division chief of NAFC’s Special Projects Divisions (SPD) welcomed the participants and expressed her appreciation to all the delegates for coming and being part of the planning workshop. Ms. Floreliz Avellana of SPD presented the workshop overview and the mechanics of the activities while Mr. Braulio Castro, Jr. enumerated the necessary reportorial requirements for each of the 2KR projects. According to Ms. Avellana, convening selected agencies of DA in the conference was the first of its kind.

Eight on-going and two newly-approved projects under the 2KR are currently being facilitated by NAFC. These included: 1) Fisheries Grassroots Outreach (FishGrO) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (BFAR-NIFTDC); 2) Technology Management for Competitive Agriculture and Fisheries Sector of the Bureau of Agricultural Research – Technology Commercialization Division (BAR-TCD); 3) Regional Freshwater Fisheries Center’s Continuing Capability Building for Integrated Development of Bicol Freshwater Fisheries of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources- Region 5; 4) Agrikultura : Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy Program of the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC); 5) Barangay Food Terminal of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech); 6) Enhancing Rural Employment Through Promotion of Village-Based Dairy Enterprise of the Philippine Carabao Center; 7) Enhancing Farmers’ Capacity to Access, Analyze and Utilize Statistical Information of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics; 8) Rehabilitation and Modernization of Livestock “Oksyon” Markets in the Philippines of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

The presentations centered on highlighting the major accomplishments of each project and the strategies being made to promote the activities at the national and regional levels. The presenters were also asked to present the problems encountered during the period of implementation and to prepare the necessary catch-up plans to warrant successful conduct of the projects. At the end of each presentation, an open forum or question and answer portion followed.

Presenting for BAR was Mr. Anthony B. Obligado, head of BAR’s Technology Commercialization Division (TCD) wherein he reported on the salient accomplishments of the Technology Management for Competitive Agriculture and Fisheries Sector (TMCAF). According to Mr. Obligado, TMCAF is a vehicle identified by BAR to speed up the transfer of mature technologies for farmers’ and fishers’ use for increased productivity and income by commercializing these technologies, thus, transforming agriculture and fisheries into market-driven sectors under the 2KR program. To date, 27 TMCAF-supported projects have already been implemented in various parts of the country since the project started in January 2010.

Mr. Hiroshi Kodama, an expert from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was invited to share his experiences particularly on the developmental technology aspects of the 2KR projects. He is currently working at the DA as Policy and Planning Advisor for Agribusiness. Mr. Kodama also worked as an expert for a regional rural development program in FAO from 2006 to 2010. He was involved in the planning and implementation of rural development projects in Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. He started his stint in the DA in July 2010 and been engaged in micro and macro agribusiness investment programming and supply chain management. Mr. Kodama is currently working closely with NAFC on 2KR.


After the presentations were completed, Ms. Avellana presented before the group the consolidated agreements and recommendations reached during the deliberations. She reminded the project proponents to be mindful of the early submission of accomplishment reports and the audited financial statement required by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Budget Management (DBM).

The 2KR Planning and Assessment concluded with the distribution of certificates among the participants and a closing message from Mr. Kodoma who said that he learned a lot during the presentations and gained a better perspective on the dynamics of Philippine agriculture. Patrick RA Lesaca, DA-BAR