Corn seed distribution in Central Philippines – another step towards recovery thanks to Norwegian funding

Typhoon Haiyan last November severely damaged the agriculture sector, which provides 40.5 percent of national employment for men and 21.8 percent for women in the Philippines. Especially crop production was severely damaged with estimates from the Government indicating about 600 000 ha of agriculture land affected and 1.1 million metric tonnes of crops lost - 80 % of which in the Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) alone.

The municipalities of Jaro and Tanauan in Leyte Province are two of the 53 municipalities in Region VIII, where FAO has been working in close collaboration with the local authorities, to support affected rice and corn farmers get back on track with their lives.

Thanks to a coordinated response by FAO with Norwegian support and the Philippine government, 13 700 small-scale rice farming households have been provided with key agricultural inputs, such as certified rice seed, fertilizer, and farming tools. Agricultural inputs such as these, valued at over USD 1.74 million, have been procured and distributed with Norwegian funds specifically, giving beneficiaries the means to get back on track with their lives.

The certified rice seed distributed with Norwegian funds yielded in the last harvest season over 26 300 metric tonnes of milled rice, enough to feed about 230 000 men women and children, generate vital income and store as seed for future planting seasons. According to FAO estimates, the over 6 000 bags of corn seed procured with Norwegian funds and which have been distributed to date in Region VIII and VI, will produce some 6 100 metric tonnes of corn grits, enough to feed over 2 300 people for one year.