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Hanover world expo selects BAR-FARM project
by Cynthia de Leon
June 1999

The good news is, the international selection committee (ISC) of the World Exposition 2000 has chosen a BAR-funded project .for participation in Hanover, Germany from June 1 to October 31 next year.

But the bad news is, failure of the government to name a Philippine Commissioner to the World Expo has dashed BAR's chance of actual participation. Deadline for the naming of said commissioner was May 30.

Selected out of 300 project applications from 75 countries was the Farmer-centered Agricultural Resource Management (FARM) project in Infanta, Quezon. Eight other Philippine projects were also selected.
The ISC is composed of members of the international advisory board of Hanover Expo 2000 and experts from various fields.

Guided by the World Expo's theme of "Humankind-Nature-Technology;" the ISO voted for projects that best demonstrate the pursuit of people around the world in making use of practical solutions for the challenges in the future.

The FARM program was designed by the United Nations Development Program in response to Agenda 21, a global action program to achieve sustainable development. It was implemented in eight Asian countries by FAO in collaboration with each country's agriculture ministry.

Infanta, the site first site chosen, has remained the FARM learning center in Asia, especially on community organizing and people's participation. It aims to improve sustainable agriculture resource management and to attain household security through innovative approaches in rainfed areas.

FARM's new paradigm of development is community-based, people-centered, and based on grassroots participation. The extension and support services of both government organizations and non-government organizations work together with farmers as a multi-disciplinary team in an inter-active way.

This participatory planning experience has shown that people know their problems well and can express concretely what is best for them.

The Infanta Integrated Community Development Assistance, Inc. (ICDAI) was the lead NGO project implementer. It is an indigenous, community-based NGO backed with 22 years of history.

ICDAI works in FARM demonstration sites supporting farmer-to-farmer training and training of government officers and NGO staff in participatory approaches to sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.

There are now 500 farmer cooperators with 29 engaged in integrated farming.

June 1999

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