On March 16, 2023, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a grant of $26.3 million for the Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA), proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) as implementing partners. Domestic resources amounting to $12.98 million will be used to co-finance the project, setting the total project value at $39.3 million.
APA aims to develop climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) services and information through the use of low-emission technologies. The project will cater to at least nine provinces in five regions - 2, 5, 10, 12, and Cordillera. At least 1.25 million poor farming households, will directly benefit with over 5 million indirect beneficiaries. Among the expected outcomes are:
- Increased institutional capacities for the development and provision of climate information, and CRA services
- Farmers adopt CRA through CRA enterprises
- Enabling Environment for mainstreaming and scaling up CRA
The APA will work to build the capacity of farming communities, private enterprises, and the government to understand and manage climate risks as well as adopt CRA practices. It seeks to mainstream and boost CRA considerations into rural development, while enhancing income-generation capabilities and adaptive capacities to climate change.
APA will be implemented this year until 2030 and is expected to reduce 1.86 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) over 20 years.