THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will distribute units of urban “aquaponics” to communities within Metro Manila as part of its programs to promote and increase food production in cities.
Under its Plant, Plant, Plant program, the DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will provide 15 small-scale and 10 large-scale fiber glass units and 50 large-scale canvas units of urban aquaponics to partner communities in Metro Manila.
“The distribution will follow an institutional arrangement through a memorandum of agreement [MOA] among the agency and the organized groups identified as recipients of the project,” BFAR said in a news statement issued on Tuesday.
“The project will cover the start-up inputs for culture of fish and vegetables as well as include a training component for fast and efficient transfer of technology,” BFAR added.
BFAR said the use of aquaponics is one of the government’s projects to “ensure sustained food production in urban communities” during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
Aquaponics is a technology that combines concepts of aquaculture and hydroponics to allow fishes and vegetables to grow together in an integrated system, according to BFAR.
“We want an agriculture that is modern; we want an agriculture that is technology-based; we want to eradicate subsistence agriculture; we want an agriculture that is inclusive and market-oriented,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.
1 comment