QC community farms to build up on ‘community pantry’ movement

the emergence of community pantries that started in Maginhawa, Quezon City, organizers of the city’s urban farms have come together to call on residents to take part in urban farming initiatives that can build up on the pantry concept and provide other sustainable ways to bring the bayanihan spirit to life.

According to community farmer Cess Lucenia, interested urban farmers can request for various resources from the city government to start up their own community farmers. Under the MB Farmville program of District 2, for instance, residents can participate in free training and seminars on potting, soil mix preparation, bio-pesticide making, seed germination, upcycling of common household items to be used as farming implements, planting techniques, and post-harvest processes.

Presently, the MB Farmville program is being carried out in 17 community farms in the district.

Lucenia shared that community farms are crucial especially during the pandemic with rising prices of commodities making it hard for consumers to provide balanced meals for their families. However, with vegetables or crops given free or at low-cost to poor families through urban farming, these households can help build up their resistance against both hunger and Covid-19.

For more information on the city’s urban farming initiative, interested residents can contact Happy Beria at +639616868160.