BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR
MANDAUE CITY, July 25 (PIA) --- Barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City, Cebu proves that organic and urban gardening serves a better purpose for the youth and the community.
Barangay Councilor Benny Albaño said that the barangay folks transformed a government lot into a purely organic vegetable and fruit farm sans fertilizers.
Albaño added the Organic Vegetable Farm provides not just pure natural and nutritious vegetables and fruits but also serves as livelihood for the farmers cultivating some plot in the farm.
Through “pick and pay” strategy, buyers can just pick or harvest any vegetables and fruits they want direct from the farm and pay to whoever is cultivating the plot where they harvested.
“Organic farm area also serves as meeting place of the people in the barangay whenever there are events, activities or project that has to be done with the combined efforts of the residents,” Albaño explained.
Albaño added that some feeding programs of the barangay are also done in the farm since most of the ingredients of the food prepared for the feeding are found within the area.
Recently the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) had its education and demonstration tour on urban gardening and organic farming at the Organic Vegetable Farm and at Cebu City Vegetable Nursery at North Reclamation Area Cebu City.
During the farm visit, Subangdaku Barangay Captain Ernie Manatad in a presentation said that aside from the implemented Organic Vegetable Farm the barangay also encourages residents to practice backyard gardening.
He noted their linked with Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) through encouraging household beneficiaries in the barangay to cultivate some farmland provided by the barangay.
Manatad said, aside from organic farming and backyard gardening, the barangay also strengthens its livelihood training and parenting among others for the residents.
They also gather the youth most especially children in conflict with the law to avail of the programs such as the organic vegetable garden for livelihood.
“With the 130 Children in Conflict with the Law in the barangay, 70% of them are now back in school,” Manatad said.
He added that one of the reasons for this is the Organic Vegetable Farming, not just providing nutritious foods for this students but also giving them income to sustain their daily needs and their studies. (mbcn/ays/PIA7)