In response to the food crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center at Mariano Marcos State University (DA-PCC at MMSU) ushers immediate interventions for food production, availability, and accessibility.
In partnership with the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I, the Department of Agriculture-Ilocos Norte Research and Experiment Center and the Municipal Agriculture Office of the City of Batac, the project dubbed “Urban Gardening and Edible Landscaping: Intensifying Vegetable Production Towards a Food Secure Society” was launched in the City of Batac on July 6.
The intervention targets about 1,000 participants residing in urban barangays with limited area for vegetable production.
Under the project, training demonstrations will be held simultaneously in various barangays. It was initially launched in Batac City to be followed by the municipality of Badoc on July 14-16 then in Laoag City on July 20-21.
Participating agencies provided resources and technical expertise to the beneficiaries. Starter kits that include vegetable seeds, seedlings, seedling trays, seedling bags, trowels, vermicast, compost, carbonized rice hull, nylon rope, straw, and IEC materials were distributed.
The project is aligned with the DA-PCC’s “Gatas, Isda, Gulay, at Karne (GIGK) Project” under the DA’s “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra COVID-19”, specifically Urban Agriculture and Plant Plant Plant Program. The GIGK promotes urban agriculture, food and feed production, value chain approach, and creation of livelihood opportunities as a source of income for vulnerable sectors in the midst of the global health emergency.
