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Philippines - Country Office

  1. Overview
  2. Country Strategy
  3. Priorities
  4. Key Program Managers
  5. Current Projects
  6. Concluded Projects
  7. Achievements
  8. Relevant Publications
  9. Country News and Stories
  10. Project Locations
  11. Country Office
  12. Country Portfolio
  13. Fellowship Statistics

Country Office

The main aim of ACIAR cooperation is to assist the Philippines to increase productivity, marketability and international competitiveness for its agricultural products, taking into account the impacts of trade liberalisation. Underlying this competitiveness is the need to improve agricultural productivity through more effective extension of research results and more responsiveness to market opportunities. This should result in higher quality commodities produced more competitively. Specific opportunities may come through research for development and marketing of products from aquaculture, horticulture, forestry and livestock enterprises and farmer-driven improvements in agricultural systems.

A significant proportion of Philippines farming is carried out in fragile sloping environments or sensitive watersheds, and it is important that intensification of agricultural productivity does not come at the expense of degradation. Efficient use of water will assume increased importance. To increase the prospects for sustainable adoption of the results of research, ACIAR's Philippines program will increasingly emphasise involvement of local partners (such as local government units, NGOs and farmer community groups) in projects and commercial and agribusiness companies. It will also promote projects that implement the results of earlier ACIAR-supported research in the Philippines. As well, there will be a focus on fostering linkages between regionally based delivery organisations and research organisations and policymakers based centrally in Manila and Los Baos.

There is greater emphasis on the southern Philippines, within a limited number of focal provinces in regions 10 and 11 (Mindanao) and regions 6, 7 and 8 (Visayas). The southern Philippines has the greatest development needs and the strongest engagement of Australian interests across the whole of government.