Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST)
#HARVESTupdates: Last February 2022, the HARVEST Technical Assistance (TA) Team visited the banana plantation farm operated by Iranun Premier Agri-Ventures Corporation (IPAC) in Buldon, Maguindanao for possible financing for its banana exports to Asian countries.
The visit paved the way in working out various agreements such as an inventory of farm infrastructure conditions, linking of IPAC with UNIFRUTTI Philippines, and drafting of the "Peace Dividend Agreement" between IPAC and its banana growers for the continued production of Cavendish Banana.
The “Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation” or HARVEST is a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded project that provides credit and technical assistance to agri-based cooperatives and enterprises in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.
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#HARVESTupdates: A technical workshop on the Halal Food Value Chain was held with key stakeholders from the public and private sectors last 19 April 2022 at Dusit Thani Manila by the JICA-supported Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST) Technical Assistance (TA) team.
Participants discussed the following topics: (1) Concept of Halal Eco-System, (2) Promotion of Halal Food in the Philippines, (3) Halal Foods Market & Certification Process, (4) Activities on Halal Foods in BARMM, and (5) Required actions to promote Halal Foods Eco-System in BARMM. The workshop ended with a message of support for the Halal eco-system from the Consul General of Indonesia Mr. Dicky Fabrian.
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#HARVESTUpdates: The Peace Dividend Agreement between the Iranun Premier Agriventures Corporation (IPAC) and its farmer-landowners was officially signed on 9 March 2022 at the Paragon Hotel in Cotabato City aimed at improving the quality of life of the farmer-landowners and their surrounding communities by ensuring employment opportunities while maintaining peace and sustainable development.
The event was attended by key officials of the Regional Bangsamoro Board of Investments (RBOI-BARMM), the farmer-landowners under IPAC, and the Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST) Technical Assistance (TA) team.
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#HARVESTUpdates: Some 60 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) run by women in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi recently received a Seaweed Value Chain (SVC) Training from the Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST) Technical Assistance (TA) team, in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The women entrepreneurs were joined by youth researchers from the Mindanao State University (MSU) – Tawi-Tawi in the training, which garnered a promise of support from Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali and triggered a resolve to produce finished products to be branded as, “A Product of Tawi-Tawi.”
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#HARVESTUpdates: The Harnessing Agribusiness Opportunities through Robust and Vibrant Entrepreneurship Supportive of Peaceful Transformation (HARVEST) Technical Assistance (TA) Team paid a courtesy call on Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshamel Ismail Sali last 29 June 2022 at the Capitol Hills in Bongao.
Engr. Merly Cruz shared with Gov. Sali the Team’s successful Seaweed Value Chain (SVC) training for some 60 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) ran by women in the province who were trained on seaweeds processing into products like pickles and chips. Governor Sali thanked the Team for helping the seaweed industry in Tawi-Tawi and expressed support for the project as he is also looking forward to more locally-produced seaweed products.
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