EVAG Initiatives

Agriculture has historically been the backbone of Ponson Island's subsistence economy. Corn has been grown on the same plots for generations, without rotation, leaving soil depleted of nutrients and crop yields low.  Nutrition among the population is poor, lacking protein, fresh fruits and vegetables. Stunting is rampant: 40% of children in the Philippines suffer from stunting, whose effects include higher childhood mortality, learning and behavioral deficiencies, poor cognition, and eventually lower productivity and income. Our agricultural goals at EVACE are three-fold: to improve yields through better practices, to increase nutritional content of crops, and introduce higher profit crops. To this end, EVACE is experimenting with growing different crop varieties in the Island's tropical climate, modeling and encouraging better agricultural practices to increase yields of traditional crops, and introducing high value marketable crops like mushrooms. The climate and conditions here are ideal for mushroom cultivation, and we plan to construct a facility to house the project's growing incubation and distribution activities. 

Aquaculture Initiatives

Traditionally, families on Ponson Island have supported themselves through fishing and farming.  Because of over-fishing and environmental changes in the wake of Hurricane Yolanda, many people who support their families through fishing cannot catch enough to  sell or to feed their families. In response, EVACE is partnering with a Filipino University in plans to pilot an aquaculture program. This off-shore cooperative fish farm will help replenish stocks while taking pressure off native populations, making it possible for fishermen to once again earn a living off the sea.