CALOOCAN CITY, May 2 (PIA) -- In a bid to strengthen urban farming in the city, the Quezon City local government through its Joy of Urban Farming program procured 6000 starter kits to be distributed to its residents.
The starter kits were bought following the recent partnership of QC and the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“We want to make sure that our people will have access to a healthy and safe source of food even during this pandemic. Through this #GrowLokal program, they can now grow their own vegetables,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
The #GrowLokal: Libreng Binhi Starter Kit contains various kinds of seeds (talong, okra, kamatis, pechay, mustasa, ampalaya, kangkong), 2 kilos of organic fertilizer, 3 potting bags, and a guide on proper planting.
Belmonte also expressed appreciation in DA ‘s recognition of the Joy of Urban Farming project which supports the agriculture sector.
In 2010, Mayor Joy Belmonte, then vice mayor, launched the Joy of Urban Farming program which was piloted in three demo farms in Quezon Memorial Circle. In 2019 alone, more than 43,000 visited the demo farm and received their own seeds and seedlings.
#GrowLokal shall be implemented by the QC’s Joy of Urban Farming program, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in coordination with the QC Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (SBCDPO).
The lady mayor added that this is also one of the initial programs that will be implemented by the QC Food Security Task Force. The task force will be created to meet Zero Hunger initiatives, one of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, in order to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture for the city.
Through the Joy of Urban Farming, the QC government shall identify and provide the required area for the establishment of the community and commercial gardens, assign people who will manage these gardens, promote the program to its constituents, and sustain the operations of these community gardens.
While DA through ATI and BPI will provide initial agriculture inputs such as seeds, seedlings, garden soil, and pots. They will also spearhead capacity-building activities, and continuously provide assistance to communities in the maintenance and sustenance of the site.
More than 400 residents filled the initial slot for the starter kits after SBCDPO started the online registration.
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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