ROOFTOP GARDEN (Photo from Baguio听PIO鈥檚 Facebook page)
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines 鈥� The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) here said more residents are engaging in rooftop and backyard food production, which is seen to help boost the country鈥檚 food sustainability.
CVAO head Dr. Silardo Bested said in a report to the city government on Thursday that there are now 94 鈥淕ulayan sa Paaralan鈥� (school vegetable gardens) from the 40 initially targeted to be established.
There are also 1,757 home gardens.
He said seedlings distribution reached 6,121, exceeding the target of 4,000.
鈥淭he remarkable outcomes in the implementation of agriculture interventions that demonstrated significant dedication in exceeding targets across various initiatives improve the current state of agriculture in the urban center,鈥� he said.
Aside from vegetables, Bested said they were able to disperse 1,166 chickens and 30 bee colonies in addition to the distribution of 10,550 fish fingerlings for inland aquaculture.
He said some residents have maintained container fish pens or backyard fishponds for both personal consumption and for sale to neighbors.
鈥淲e give out free [agricultural] products so that we can encourage the residents to grow food, whether vegetables, fish, or animals, [in] their small spaces and pots,鈥� he said in a phone interview on Thursday.
鈥淭his will ensure [an] available food supply for the family鈥檚 consumption or income [from] the extra production that they sell to friends or neighbors,鈥� he added.
Bested said they also intervene in terms of marketing by conducting farmers鈥� market days and Kadiwa activities.
The city鈥檚 Kadiwa trucks are utilized to help in the transport of goods from farms to markets and buying agricultural inputs from markets to farms, thereby increasing profitability.
Bested further said they continue to improve agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems, production facilities, farm-to-market roads, and seedling nurseries.
These initiatives are meant to increase farming efficiency and reduce post-harvest losses.
He said, 鈥淭he initiatives underscore a strong commitment to sustainability, food security, and empowering local communities with knowledge and resources for long-term impact.鈥�
Meanwhile, the local government continues to provide programs and opportunities that nurture the talents and potential of young people and lure them into agriculture.
The city government has also sent young farmers to an internship program in Taiwan, allowing them to see the great potential of the foreign country鈥檚 agricultural industry.