DA-10 distributes vegetable seeds to boost urban agriculture in NorMin

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), through its National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP), distributed an assortment of vegetable seeds to the City Local Government Units (CLGUs) of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, as part of its continuing efforts to strengthen urban farming and food security initiatives in Northern Mindanao on October 22, here.

Valued at PhP118,778, the vegetable seeds were turned over by DA-10 OIC- Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Lana May S. Racines, and Ronald Allan P. Camaddo, NUPAP Focal Person.

Richard A. Padilla, urban gardening focal person of the City Agriculture Office of Cagayan de Oro, expressed his gratitude for the initiative, saying it will significantly help communities in practicing urban gardening. “This is a big help, especially to those engaged in urban gardening. Not only it promotes good health, but also creates income opportunities for our farmers if they nurture their crops properly and apply value-adding innovations.”

“I encouraged the public to grow vegetables even with limited space, using recyclable materials and techniques such as greening, green walling, Urban Containerized and Sustainable Gardening (UCSG), and other urban gardening technologies,” he added.

In the same way, DA-10 through the NUPAP also distributed vegetable seeds worth PhP40,201 each to the Balugto “Hope” Agroforestry Association, Inc. in Talakag, Bukidnon; Camiguin Polytechnic State College (CPSC) – Catarman Campus; and LGU Don Victoriano in Misamis Occidental.

This effort supports the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s thrust in promoting inclusive economic and social transformation through strengthened local food systems and sustainable agricultural development. # (NQA)