The agriculture department in Region 10 continues to support the local government and other government agencies in their bid to cushion the socio-economic impact of COVID-19, thru vegetable seeds provision.

With the aim of expanding the household urban gardening project in Cagayan de Oro City, the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) obtained its requested 159 packets of assorted veggie seeds from DA-Regional Field Office 10 on July 2, 2020.

According to CHUDD-Social Entrepreneurship Program Section Head Kris S. Buntag, three packets will be given to each homeowners association (HOA) of the 53 relocation sites in CdeO, where 10 among the associations have their own existing communal garden.

She said, currently there are about 764 households in 35 HOAs are already practicing the urban container and household gardening since 2018 in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

“DA’s veggie seeds provision is vital to the projects of the local government, especially during this health crisis. Through this, marginalized communities can eat their own harvest and even sell some excess produce as their livelihood,” she exclaimed.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Carmelita T. Bajarla handed said provisions.# (EMB)