MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Agriculture (DA) is asking indigenous peoples (IPs) to transform portions of their idle ancestral lands into food production areas to ensure stable food supply amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). Citing the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the DA noted that IPs occupy around 7.7 million hectares or 26% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares. As of 2019, the NCIP has issued 243 certificates of ancestral domain titles, with a total land area of 5.7 million hectares and a total of 1.3 million IPs as rights holders. Dar noted that the DA realigned its programs and refocused its budget to enhance food production as it is “is as equally important as a major strategy” in the fight against the pandemic. The DA also listed down ampalaya, asparagus, cabbage, cassava, garlic, ginger, mungbean, papaya, peanut, sweet potato and tomato as other crop IPs can grow.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 16, 2020 07:55 UTC