By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

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COTABATO CITY — Some five hundred twenty (520) farmers and fisher folks in the provincial islands of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi are set to undergo Technical-Vocational (Tech-Voc) skills training after an agreement was signed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN).

MAFAR Minister Dr. Mohammad Yacob and FAO Project Team Leader Ruben Miranda on W said he signed a P4.7-million Letter of Agreement (LOA) under the project entitled “The Project for Agricultural Training for Establishment of Peace in Mindanao”.

Yacob said it is funded by the Government of Japan, and the project is geared towards capacitating farmers and fishers’ skills in production techniques and adaptive practices to sustain agri-fishery sector in the islands.

It is projected to conduct 26 training batches of farmers and fishers, who will be trained on agriculture and horticultural courses, including basic agri-entrepreneurship, livelihood, and skills training.

These are composed of former combatants and immediate families, Bangsamoro Women’s Auxiliary Brigade (BWAB) members, small holder farmers and fisher folks, indigenous people, out-of-school youth, and former beneficiaries of Japan International Cooperation Agency -Market Driven Local Industry Promotion (JICA-MDLIP).

MAFAR Minister Yacob expressed his gratitude to FAO and Japan Government for their partnership and commitment to “support achieve self-reliant, food-secured and resilient Bangsamoro”.

Meanwhile, FAO ensured to provide assistance to the ministry for effective implementation of the training program in the three provincial islands.

Also present at the LOA Signing Ceremony were MAFAR Assistant to the Minister for Special Concern Pendatun Patarasa, Director for Agriculture Services Engr. Ismail Guiamel, and other MAFAR and FAO key dignitaries who attended online. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL