The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) on Monday launched an urban gardening program in Tondo, Manila, in a bid to boost vegetable crop production in one of Metro Manila’s congested areas.
DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones said during the launching of the “Buhay sa Gulay” program held at the St. John Don Bosco Parish that while many Filipinos were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic after losing their jobs, hence, no means to put food on the tables, farmers were least affected by the crisis because they have their farms for their family and more importantly, contributing to the country’s food basket.
Buhay sa Gulay will utilize the parish’s 8,000-square-meter football field for vegetable farming that would benefit the families and residents in 17 barangays.
“This land is currently idle and we would use this to teach our urban dwellers how to farm so that they could produce their own food and also sell some of their yields to earn money,” the DAR chief said in a news statement.
Castriciones further said that the DAR’s mandate is to distribute lands to landless farmers in the countryside and provide them with various support services, including training, to help them boost their farms. These farmers in rural communities would now share their learnings with the urban dwellers.
DAR-Calabarzon Regional Director Rene Colocar explained that five farmer-scientists, who are also agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the DAR in the province of Cavite, will teach the benefiting barangays the technical know-how on cultivating the lands.
“Apart from the training, the seedlings, fertilizers, vermicast, and other farming materials will be provided by the provincial office of DAR in Cavite, while the machinery we use are borrowed from the Department of Agriculture,” Colocar said.
Manila Counselor Irma Alfonso-Juson, who represented Mayor Isko Moreno, said that this project is most welcome to the mayor, as it would benefit his constituents, especially during these trying times.
“We support urban farming, and I will propose to the City Council that this noble project be funded by our local government,” Juson said.
Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo said St. John Bosco dedicated his lifetime to the poor and that the DAR must be his instrument in helping the poor parishioners of Manila at present.
“I am hopeful that other cities, communities and urban centers in Metro Manila would emulate this project, and I trust that the DAR would certainly, help them,I Bishop Pabillo said.
Image credits: dar.gov.ph