Urban agri to augment food security – DA

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala, during the recent launch of the agency’s urban agriculture technology project in Las Piñas City, called on communities to turn unused open spaces into areas of agricultural production.

“That way, city residents can be assured of ready source of food, especially vegetables, when their supply and distribution get affected by unforeseen events in nearby production areas,” he said. “This is not to mention yet the contribution of urban farming to improve biodiversity.”

The project aims to give cities source of fresh and safe food, and extra income. It is implemented in partnership with the DA Regional Office for CALABARZON (Cav- ite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), the Bureau of Plant Industry, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Office of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

Technologies proposed by DA are edible landscaping, green riprapping, aquaponics, and container gardening.

Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food Chair Sen. Cynthia Villar also said urban agriculture will help the country cope with the challenges of climate change.

“If we plant our own sources, we would be assured of food supply when disaster hits us and supplies from the countryside cannot be delivered to Metro Manila,” she said.

Las Piñas resident and container gardening enthusiast Norby De La Cruz attests to this as he said that his family has turned to their garden during emergencies.

“We no longer have to buy vegetables, and herbs and spices that we needed in our kitchen,” he said.

Alcala also said he has lobbied for vegetable gardening to be included again in the curricular or extra-curricular programs of public schools, as he believes that the younger ones should be exposed to and educated on the value of caring for the environment.

“Through this project, we hope to reintroduce the practice of ecological living within cities,” he said. (Jaimie Rose R. Aberia)