CAO: Container gardening, tool in securing food in urban areas

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1010577
• Tuesday, July 24, 2018

By Jasper Marie O. Rucat (JMOR/PIA10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental (PIA) – Cagayan de Oro City has enabled its communities in the barangays to adopt food container gardening to address the issue of food insecurity.

Joseph Borja, Urban Agriculture Coordinator of Cagayan de Oro City Agriculture Office (CAO), explained during the Talakayan sa PIA on Nutrition Month celebration that the local government is focusing now on urban container gardening because of its impact on nutrition among families and children. Through this, they can also promote eating healthy, nutritious and chemical-free food.

He shared people are leaving rural areas and relocating to urban areas.

“Pero pag-abot sa urban, daghan problema. Wala pud pagkaon kay wala pud na-produce didto sa rural. So meaning kailangan ibalik ang pagkaon. I-secure gyud ang pagkaon sa urban (However, when they reach the urban, there are so many problems. There is no food because there is no production in the rural areas. It means, there is a need to bring back food. We need to secure food in the urban)," Borja said.

In the field, when they try to introduce a new technology, Borja said only 25 to 30 percent adopt. However, others follow when those who adopted have already started.

He said they are focusing now on the poorest of the poor, identified Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The good thing about 4Ps, he said is that 60 percent of their income goes to food.

Meanwhile, their biodegradable waste is also 60 percent. This means they will recycle their food in the nutrient loop. The waste will become compost for their gardening. And soon, when the seed bears fruit, this will also become their source of food.

He said he doesn’t believe that people do not know how to plant. It is just a matter of change of mindset.

Dr. Vivian Tuason of the Department of Education (Deped) Misamis Oriental shared that Gulayan sa Paaralan or Vegetable Garden in the schools both elementary and secondary is still being implemented and sustained.

The reason for this is also to provide for the school based feeding program to address the prevalence of malnutrition among school children. These learners are usually found in fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities with low academic performance.

Tuason said the challenge now is that only a few enroll in Agriculture [courses].

Based on Deped's survey, either learners lack interest or are not motivated or they don’t appreciate farming or get bored of it. That is why, she said, only two schools in Claveria, Misamis Oriental-- an agricultural area, offer agriculture program.

The National Nutrition Council's (NNC) role is to encourage local government units (LGUs) and schools to promote food gardening. Garden produce will then be used as ingredients for cooking.

Gladys Mae Fernandez of NNC-10 said the nationwide problem is stunting (low in height). “Daghan putot or pandak sa region 10 (Many are stunted in region 10).

About 36.5 percent stunted are children below five years old. Wasting or niwang is four percent. Among the five provinces, the high prevalence of stunting is in Lanao del Norte with 45 percent while Bukidnon is 37 percent. Other factors of malnutrition include micronutrient deficiency or obesity prevalence among adults.