While many have done a good talk on how agriculture can contribute to peace and development in Mindanao, a couple in the island has done a very good work – they have made rebels and their families farm.
They are Drs. Edwin and Rosafe Hondrade. They started the Pagkain Para sa Masu (PPSM), a long-time government project that aims to help the poor in Mindanao, particularly ex-rebels Survive the war by teaching them backyard gardening and other farm ventures.
It is maintained by the Technical Cooperation Project 4, or the Rice-based Farming Systems and Training Support Program for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which is a collaborative project of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries ARMM, and PhilRice.