Young Artists Meet @ IFAD-KLM4 PINTASAKAHAN!

Sons and daughters of farmers aged 15 to 21 years old converged at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City, Philippines on October 12, 2010 to showcase their skills in the arts and get a chance to snatch trophies and cash prizes.

Aside from the Policy and Investment Forum, KLM4 also featured Pintasakahan which is an on-the-spot-poster-making contest for the youth. Pintasakahan, a combination of the Filipino words “pinta” (paint) and “sakahan” (farm) is a way to encourage young people to remain in their rural communities and to be actively engaged in the rural economy both in the agricultural and non-farm sectors.

The competition adopted the event theme, “Shared Resources, Shared Development” and supports the Joint Statement by the Heads of UN Entities in launching the International Year of the Youth last August 12, 2010. The participants are children of agrarian reform beneficiaries. IFAD partners and project partners such as PAKISAMA, Free Farmers Federation, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, and the 2^nd Cordillera Highland Agricultural and Resource Management Project

Congratulation to the KLM4 PintaSAKAhan winners!

1st place- P10,000.00 : Nelvin G. Samblasinio - 15 years old - Agusan del Sur, Caraga Region

2nd place - P7,500.00 : Michelle Pacres - 18 years old - Cavite, Region IV-A

3rd place - P5,000.00 : Steve S. Serrano - 20 years old - La Union, Region I

Photo collage by Vherna C. Comagon, DAR-Caraga Region, Philippines

KLM4 Exhibit: Moving Forward and Outward

Product exhibits usually serve as natural attractions to draw attention to an event, and the exhibit was one of the four-pronged activity staged at the Megatrade Hall, SM Megamall last Oct. 12-13, 2010. The list of activities included the Policy & Investment Forum, Product Demonstrations and the Postermaking Contest.

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The Knowledge and Learning Market (KLM) in its four-year tradition has always been an opportunity for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and its partners to showcase products and highlight accomplishments and breakthroughs. KLM4 is no different except for the fact that it has moved forward and turned outward. KLM4 moved forward by giving the lead to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in staging the KLM and turned outward by opening the doors of KLM for other agencies and projects to showcase products and accomplishments.

IFAD with its mission to enable the rural poor to overcome poverty have partnered with NEDA and the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the RP-Japan Kennedy Round 2 (KR2), a facility focused on food security. NEDA showcased the Productivity Enhancement Program and the Department of Agriculture showcased the Food Security Project it is implementing through the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC). Closely coordinated with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the KLM has become a multi-pronged event combining the resources of IFAD, NEDA, DA and DAR.

Out of the 63 exhibitors, special recognition has been given by IFAD to the following:

- Best Product Booth - Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Programme (RuMEPP)

- Most Creative Booth - Rapid Food Production Enhancement Programme (RaFPEP) - People's Choice Booth

- DAR/IFAD NMCIREMP

Photo by Vherna C. Comagon, DAR-Caraga, Philippines

The Fourth Knowledge and Learning Market (KLM4) is on!

The RP-Japan KR2 Exhibit and IFAD KLM4 kicked off today Oct 11, 2010 at the Megatrade Hall, SM Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City, Philippines featuring product exhibits, a policy and investment forum, project demonstrations, and an on-the-spot poster-making contest. As an annual event the KLM showcases projects assisted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Productivity Enhancement Program of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

In line with its theme, Shared Resources, Shared Development , KLM4 gathers entrepreneurs, experts, Knowledge Management practitioners, implementers, donors, civil society, and other key stakeholders in the rural development sector. The KLM is designed to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences of small entrepreneurs, investors, producers and other stakeholders.

Today, the discussion focuses on Making Socially Relevant Projects Economically Viable, Innovative Financing Supporting Value Chain and Investing in Rural Infrastructure. Tomorrow the main topics in the Investment Forum will tackle Maximizing Information and Communication Technology for Rural Productivity, Valuing Local Initiatives and Investing on the Youth for Agricultural Development.

As the sharing of experiences continues, products that range from processed food items, furniture, ornaments and textile are on sale at the exhibit area. Winners of the poster-making contest and award-winning displays will be honored on the last day of the event. The products on exhibit and on sale are notably innovative, environment-friendly, organic and support a healthy lifestyle.

The Policy and Investment Forum is organized to bring an animated dialogue on the various selected topics via case presentations and interactive discussions. For the first time, IFAD is taking the support role with NEDA taking the lead in partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). Aware of the growing recognition of the new architecture on financing and supporting relevant policies for development interventions IFAD continues to support the KLM. Photo by Robert Domoguen, DA-IFAD CHARMP2