CITY HALL GIVES EQUIPMENT WORTH P4M TO FARMERS

Farming equipment aimed at helping city barangays become more resilient to climate change

The Cebu City Government and the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 yesterday turned over to 50 farmers equipment that will help them become more resilient amid climate change.

The farmers received P1.5 mil- lion worth of square tanks, drums and pumps from the City, and a P2.5-million hauling truck from DA. Regional Technical Director Joel Lumba represented DA during the ceremonial turnover.

“Water is one of the important components in farming. We know that storage facilities are important. It’s a way to effectively manage sources, and increase production and income,” said City Agriculturist Apple Tribunalo.

Aside from the farming inputs, the agriculture office together with the City Tourism Office also formally launched TOM’s (Technologies Offered to Masa) Garden in Barangay Taptap.

TOM’s Garden offers an array of methods fit for both rural and urban gardening.

This includes strawberry in pots, budded rose, anthurium and poinsettia planting, botika (herb and medicinal) garden, vermi culture, duck weed, happy boy and happy nok (growing of pigs and chickens through organic feeds), vegetable production, orchid and dragon fruit gardening, super cardava and hydroponics.

Among the highlighted methods was the newspaper technology, which Mayor Tomas Osmeña suggested. This uses newspapers as “soil sponges” to ensure that the produce grows healthily.

In an interview, Osmeña said he is open to the City Government granting a subsidy to farmers who are willing to adopt the methods offered by the agriculture office.

He said that the seminars are among the first steps in improving the agricultural sector of the city, with the help of farmers and their new technology.

“The best way to teach people is by example. It’s not actually just about putting up a model farm. It’s about looking for farmers who are willing do it (and apply methods offered),” Osmeña said.

Aside from Osmeña, Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar and Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Joy Augustus Young, Alvin Arcilla (deputy mayor for agriculture), Sisinio Andales and Eugenio Gabuya also attended yesterday’s event.