THE Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) recently distributed P300,000 worth of vegetable seeds to 19 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidentalas part of the observance of Nutrition Month this July.
OPA Supervising Management Specialist Teena Pineda said the vegetable seeds distribution is a yearly initiative of the provincial government aligned to its food security program.
“We encourage not only LGUs but all agencies and sectors, including families involved in health and nutrition promotion to build community vegetable gardens, even in small containers and available spaces, in their localities and backyards,” Pineda said.
Some of the seeds distributed are squash, eggplant, beans, tomatoes and okra - those that are used in cooking healthy dishes like pinakbet.
Pineda said the OPA ensures that the seeds are grown through visitation and inspection conducted by the barangay nutrition scholars, municipal officials, and provincial monitoring team.
Fresh milk feeding
Another part of OPA's mode of implementation of the Nutrition Month themed “Timbang Iwasto sa Tamang Nutrisyon at Ehersisyo” is the yearly fresh milk feeding program.
Pineda said the province allocated P500,000 this year to feed severely underweight children ages 0-71 months in municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Manapla, San Enrique, La Castellana, Isabela, Pulupandan and Murcia.
The fresh milk feeding program is good for 120 sustaining days and will start within the month.
“Aside from records of severely underweight children in the locality, beneficiary LGUs are identified through its geographical location,” Pineda said, adding that these municipalities were chosen because they are easily reached; hence, the freshness of milk will be maintained and milk spoilage will be avoided.
Other OPA activities during the Nutrition Month are forums on nutrition education for all involved sectors, including parents especially mothers.