Pangasinan promotes backyard, urban gardening

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=787561
• Wednesday, July 29, 2015

(PNA), LAP/LVM/JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/RMA

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, July 29 (PNA) -- The provincial government is encouraging the people in 44 towns and three cities of Pangasinan to undertake urban gardening in their backyards or even in pots to promote food sufficiency as well as nutrition.

"Vegetable planting can add up to the family resources while reducing expenses," remarked Board Member Amado Espino III, when he represented Governor Amado Espino Jr. during a program marking the distribution of vegetable seeds to women organizations on Wednesday at the Provincial Training and Development Center.

The young Espino, provincial president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, underscored that growing vegetables in households is easy and which families, especially mothers, love to do.

The vegetable seeds, from the provincial nursery, were distributed to 22 women's groups in the province which have around 400 members.

Each women's group received one pack of bush sitao, smooth green okra, upland kangkong, pechay, ampalaya, and patola seeds.

These vegetables, according to officer-in-charge provincial agriculturist Dalisay Moya, are nutritious and easy-to-raise, in relation to the soil type of the province.

The recipients were the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Alaminos City, Binmaley, Bugallon, Labrador, Mabini, Malasiqui, Mangaldan Mangatarem, San Carlos City, San Nicolas, Sta. Barbara, Umingan, and Urdaneta City; Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) of Bani, Bugallon, Mapandan, San Jacinto, Laoac, and Umingan; Bautista Women's Association; and Sta. Barbara Pangasinan Women's Development, Inc.

A technical briefing on backyard and urban gardening was also provided to the participants.

Furthermore, Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. cited the activity was in line with the Nutrition Month Celebration.

"Aside from livelihood, this is in line with healthy living," he said.

Along with the seed distribution, a cooking competition participated in by the members of the women's groups was held.

Winners in the "nutri-pabaon" category were the Laoac KALIPI (first), Sta. Barbara Pangasinan Women's Development, Inc. (second), and Urdaneta City RIC (third).

Meanwhile, top three winners in the main dish category were the Mangatarem RIC, Alaminos City RIC, and San Carlos City RIC.

Cookfest winners for both categories received certificates of recognition and cash prizes worth P3,000 for the first; P2,500 for the second; and P2,000 for the third.

Each non-winner received P500 and certificate of appreciation.