Taraka is a primarily agricultural municipality in Lanao del Sur, recognized for its vast arable land and favorable climate. The municipality has an abundance of available or idle land that has enormous agricultural potential. However, the flood-prone terrain of Taraka, which is home to the sub-basins surrounding Lake Lanao, challenges this potential. Recognizing both the opportunities and the constraints, Taraka intended to develop Ani Natin, Kabuhayan Niyo —adaptive community gardens, an initiative informed by local stakeholders and aimed at strengthening social cohesion and resilience in communities, to address unemployment, food insecurity, and a lack of sustainable livelihoods. Ani Natin, Kabuhayan Niyo is designed to foster coordination by encouraging community members farmers, whether individual or farmer cooperatives or organizations) and local government at the municipal and barangay levels to actively participate and engage in cooperative and collective decision-making processes. The municipality also seeks partnership opportunities for technical assistance in adaptive farming to ensure that Taraka growers have access to appropriate and accessible technology and localized practices, financial assistance for farm inputs and labor compensation for growers, and the development of rewards and recognition program for barangay community gardens.
