LAMUT, Ifugao (PIA) -- In efforts towards  sustainable food production, the lone university in Ifugao recently launched MASAGANANG Cordillera Project or the Project on Maximizing Agricultural Resources for Community Sustainability in the Cordillera Administrative Region under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)- Cordillera.

The project is located at Ifugao State University-Main Campus beside the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) Center in Nayon, Lamut.

This pet project of CHED-Cordillera Regional Director Demetrio Anduyan Jr.  is a community model farm for sustainable food production that locals can adopt. It is also an area for agricultural tourism and a hub for continuing research based on the principle of regenerative agriculture.

“The very purpose of the MASAGANANG Cordillera project is to showcase how to sustain a family of five with a backyard or organic vegetable gardening and domesticating different animals especially during a pandemic when there is scarcity of food. Kailangan nating ipakita sa community ano ang dapat gawin para walang idle lands, lahat ay mapakinabangan para magkaroon ng food sustainability sa Cordillera,” Anduyan explained.

Anduyan said the project is also a tourism complex where tourists can learn and understand the Cordilleran culture as they visit. He said all the other state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Cordillera are also set to launch similar project.

“This can also be an income-generating enterprise for the university, a research laboratory, and a training center for agriculture in partnership with TESDA. Lahat po ng SUCs in the Cordillera ay magkakaroon ng Agri-Tourism and Information Complex,” said Anduyan.

Inspired by the MASAGANANG Cordillera Project, CHED Commissioner Marita Canapi said    she will promote the project to other SUCs in the country.

“As a commissioner of CHED, I will propagate the good news to the Commission and to other SUCs around the country that there is such a project like this to develop our cultural heritage as well as help indigenous communities around the schools and our country,” said Canapi.

Along with Canapi and  Anduyan , Department of Education- CAR Regional Director Estella Leon-Cariño and IFSU President Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon led the launching of the  project.

 Presidents and representatives from higher education institutions, regional and provincial directors of partner agencies, and provincial and local government units were also present during the launching. (JDP/FBR-PIA CAR, Ifugao)