COTABATO CITY – The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), together with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is set to begin this week the implementation of a tie-up project worth $210,536 designed to bring back the livelihood and improve the food security of war-affected farmer-residents in Maguindanao.

The project, dubbed “Livelihood Restoration and Improved Food Security of Internally Displaced People in Conflict-Affected Areas in Maguindanao” targets to help 7,250 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in nine municipalities in Maguindanao, according to Daud Lagasi, Maguindanao agricultural officer.

The coordinating committee overseeing the project has given to it the go signal after approving the implementation strategy on August 17.

“We will be starting the groundwork this week and hopefully plant the next crop of rice by the third week of September,” Lagasi said.

Lagasi also said that beneficiaries would be trained on rice, corn, and vegetable production as well as in making fishing implements, he said.

They will also be given the necessary supply and materials as start-up.

He said they have tapped the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-ARMM in selecting the beneficiaries.