The project will establish a multiple crop, diversified model farm in a 20-hectare forestland in Naawan municipality, Misamis Oriental in order to showcase integration of different high-valued fruit and timber trees for farmers to learn from and to supply planting materials in the area.
The forest biodiversity situation in Misamis Oriental province is alarming and declining at a very rapid phase. This has resulted to massive flooding in the lowland areas and silting of rivers with silt, debris and sand eroded from the hillsides. If this is not checked, massive erosion and loss of biodiversity will result and this will be coupled by poverty among thousands of inhabitants.
The project will establish a 20-hectare model farm showcasing the latest in crop intensification and diversification in a self-sustaining system and much improved income streams for farmers. The farm will serve as training site for local as well as provincial-based farmers and farm technicians as well as supplier of seeds and seedlings for planting in neighboring farms.
The improvement of the biodiversity situation is closely linked with the improvement of the socio-economic situation of the farmers. Destruction of biodiversity means that recovery will be difficult and may take hundred of years so there is indeed an urgent need to protect, promote and improve local biodiversity.
