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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed a new project to alleviate poverty and improve irrigation and farmer productivity in four regions of Southern Philippines.
The objective of the Project is to increase incomes of about 10,000 farm households through increased agricultural production and crop diversification, resulting from investment in irrigation infrastructure and measures to promote user participation in project development or improvement and subsequent system management.
The project endeavors to improve agricultural production, diversification of crops, and the standard of living in Southern Philippines agrarian communities. The advancement of rural irrigation systems will promote high crop yields, healthier soil, and a stable economy.
The project also provides for improved management of degraded watersheds, resettlement of populations displaced by reservoir impoundment, measures to control schistosomiasis and development of indigenous people.
Scistomiasis is one of the most common and deadly Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). It is transmitted by contact with contaminated fresh water. Irrigation is the artificial application of water into soil to promote crop growth. Contaminated water used to grow crops will contaminate the food supply and amplify the risk of contracting scistomiasis in a community.
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