UN agency to provide $120-M grant for agriculture

The UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is set to give the country $120 million in grants over the next four years for the construction of agricultural infrastructure projects in the 20 poorest provinces.

Kevin Cleaver, assistant president of the UN-IFAD's program management department, told reporters in Malacañang that the UN agency had given the Philippines $126 million in the past.

Cleaver said the UN-IFAD focuses on the poorest regions of countries, including the Philippines.

"We deal with the poor, the poorest 20 provinces. We deal with agriculture and our whole focus is on investing in rural agricultural production," he said.