MANILA, Philippines -- Amid the rice situation in the country, an international funding agency has pledged some $186 million in assistance to boost agriculture production.

Kevin Cleaver, assistant president for program management department of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said $66 million would come this year for agriculture development in the Cordillera and some $120 million to come in the next four years for various agricultural projects.

He said the funding would have a medium to long-term effect to the country's agriculture sector.

He said that right now, the country has a short-term problem, but added that the government was doing something about it.

He said the government should deal with the rice situation to avert a food crisis being experienced by countries such as Haiti and Egypt.