The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has launched the Value-chain Innovation for Sustainable Transformation in Agrarian Reform Communities (VISTA) Project, a significant initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods of farmers in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Region 12 (Soccsksargen). This PHP8.02-billion project, supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is designed to foster inclusive value chains, encourage sustainable agricultural practices, and enhance food security in these upland areas.
Scheduled to run from 2025 to 2030, the VISTA Project is expected to play a crucial role in promoting peace and development in the targeted regions. According to Rene Colocar, Assistant Secretary of DAR’s Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office, the project will offer extensive assistance to agrarian reform communities (ARCs), encompassing the entire agricultural process from seed selection to market access.
The initiative focuses on cacao and coffee as priority crops for 70,000 households in ARCs and nearby non-agrarian reform communities in the two regions. Additionally, the project will promote diversified farming to ensure continuous income for farmers while they await the harvest of these main crops.
Farmers will benefit from essential support such as farm machinery, irrigation systems, post-harvest facilities, and improved farm-to-market roads. The project also emphasizes inclusivity, aiming to reach 50 percent women, 30 percent from indigenous communities, and 20 percent youth.
To ensure its long-term success, DAR will work in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and local government units. The VISTA Project aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for rural development, led by Secretary Conrado Estrella III.