From veggies to fish, poultry

Photo from Iloilo City Government
Photo from Iloilo City Government

THE Iloilo City Government has leveled up vegetable gardening in villages into an integrated farming under Mayor Jerry Treñas (JPT) Edible Landscaping (Ediscape II): From Farm to Fork Sustainability Program 2022.

City Agriculturist's Office (CAO) expanded the participation of 31 barangays from the initial 12 barangays piloted by City Population Office in 2020 as a Gender and Development (GAD) activity for women.

“To improve the program, we introduced an innovation in 2021 to include chicken-raising and fish pond. We also included fruit trees and malunggay for food security and immunity boosting,” said City Agriculturist Iñigo Garingalao.

“The project does not stop on planting alone. Our technicians conduct inspection weekly. We encourage the residents because this is a big help if food sources are available in the community and nutritious at least cost,” he said.

CAO assessed the areas to ensure these are suited for cultivation.

“We check the acidity of soil so we can provide garden soil and enhancers like vermi cast and burnt rice hulls, aside from other inputs like seeds and tools, if there is source of water,” Garingalao said.

“We also recommend container gardening from used plastics since the space is small. This way, we can achieve not only nutrition but also good solid waste management,” he added.

According to him, participating barangays will be scheduled by batch for hands-on trainings at Uswag Nursery in Barangay Tacas, Jaro prior to their planting period by end of March.

CAO will continue the monitoring up to the harvest season.

“We have a rollover scheme. If we have many chickens raised in the Uswag Agri Nursery, interested barangay will be in line for training, site validation and starter packet of four hens and one rooster. The first hatchling out of this this will be rolled over to the next person,” Garingalao said.

“We want community cooperation, promote the values of unity and industry and involve groups like youth and senior citizens. This is also a contest to spice up things in the community,” he added. (PR)

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