MSU-Maguindanao Organizes Inception Meeting and Stakeholders’ Forum for the Implementation of Agricultural Livelihood Projects for MILF Camps
MSU-Maguindanao organized an Inception Meeting and Stakeholders’ Forum for the Implementation of Agricultural Livelihood Projects for MILF Camps at 1st Marine Brigade Headquarters at Barangay Tugaig, Barira, Maguindanao del Norte (MdN) on July 29, 2024. The meeting was attended by MSU-Maguindanao Chancellor Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona, Presidential Assistant Cesar B. Yano, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace,Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Chair of the GPH Peace Implementing Panel (PIP), Lt. Gen Danilo P. Pamonag, GPH Co-chair of the Joint Task Force on Camps Transformation (JTFCT), Head of Secretariat, Director Farah Grace V. Naparan, and representatives from MAFAR, Municipal Cooperative Office, Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) of Barira, MdN, Cooperative Presidents, and Camp Coordinators of MILF Camps.
As part of the University’s commitment to developing and implementing technological innovations for agriculture, fisheries, and food systems that can be directly utilized by the community, MSU-Maguindanao partnered with OPAPRU through the JTFCT to support the Camps Transformation Plan (CTP). This project aims to transform three of the six Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camps into peaceful and productive communities.
During the meeting, project leaders presented the results, highlighting a yield of 98.30 kg of various vegetables grown in both the greenhouse and vegetable plots. These vegetables included pechay, tomatoes, eggplants, bottle gourds, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Additionally, Phase 2 of the project was introduced. In return, partner cooperatives and representatives of Camps Abubakar, Badre, and Omar expressed their commitment and shared their expectations for the next phase of the project.
Moreover, representatives from the MILF Camps of Badre and Omar had a learning visits to the Sustainable and Climate-Smart Farming for Vegetable and Fish Production established at Camp Abubakar. The purpose of these visits was to learn and replicate these projects in their respective camps. This initiative was part of the United Nation Development Programme-European Union (UNDP-EU’s) Programme on Assistance for Camp Transformation through Inclusion, Violence Prevention, and Economic Empowerment (PROACTIVE) project.
Also present were Secretariat of the GPH PIP, Ms. Morhanida A. Manda, MAFAR Municipal Officer-Barira, MdN, Mr. Mohaimen Usman, Head Secretariat of the MILF JTFCT, Deputy Minister Abdulkudos Balitok, MSU-Maguindanao Supreme Student Council, and other officials of the University.