THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) has started disseminating the results of a study intended to help farmers plan their agricultural activities and choose crops that best suit their land. Anne Marie I. Oledan, project coordinator at MinDA, said last week that the Water-Energy Food Study, funded by the United States Assistance for International Development, provides data on water availability as well areas vulnerable to climate change. The study, according to the results summary, indicates the “baseline quantity for surface water supply in eight river basins in Mindanao, simulates the impact of climate change on surface water supply, maps out water rich and water stressed areas as these relate to the agriculture products of Mindanao, and explores policies that efficiency match natural resources to supply availability for sustained economic growth.” The study found out that “the largest impact area for water shortage can be seen in major urban areas” like the cities of Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro, and the entire Zamboanga Peninsula Region. Ms. Oledan said MinDA has been making presentations to local government units (LGUs), which are tasked with “capacitating the farmers through interpretation of the data.” She added that study will also help LGUs in updating their comprehensive land use plan (CLUP) as well as geographic information systems, which would allow them to introduce climate change-adaptation mechanisms like irrigation systems. With the study on hand, MinDA is hopeful that LGUs as well as national government agencies will be able to come up with more comprehensive programs on land use, investments, and policies on shared resource management. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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