Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City---In response to the request of the barangay officials of Barangay Gusa, a training in urban container household gardening was organized with 25 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and PWD stakeholders successfully participated and completed the said training.
RAFC-10 Chairperson Nilda B. Salas delivered an inspiring message during the opening program. She expressed her gratitude to the management of the ATI-RTC X for the conduct of the training. In her message, she emphasized that the training will not only capacitate the PWDs but will also be of big help to the environment because container gardening encourages the re-use and re-cycling of materials that would just be dumped in landfills or would end up clogging the waterways.
Training Specialist III Teodosia B. Jaraba gave a welcome message on behalf of Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez. She said that she was inspired by the willingness of the PWD community to attend the training. She thanked the Barangay Council of Barangay Gusa for the initiative for the benefit of the PWDs in their Barangay.
A lecture-discussion on urban container gardening and the concepts of vegetable growing and FAITH (Food Always in The Home) was delivered by Ms. Jaraba. For the afternoon session, Technical Support Staff Gia Joy B. Lusterio delivered her lecture on the Production Guide on Selected Solanaceous Crops, Legumes, Crucifers, Rootcrops and Cucurbits Crops.
On the second day of training, the participants were engaged in the participative lecture on Square Foot Gardening and Black Soldier Fly Production and Utilization delivered by Mr. Honorio S. Cervantes. Meanwhile, Ms. Salas delivered her lecture on Do-It-Yourself Hydroponics followed by a demonstration/hands-on activity, followed by Technical Support Staff Hannah Eleanor N. Santander who gave a lecture on the topic of Management of Common Insect Pests and Diseases of Vegetables.
The participants, together with the resource persons and training management team visited the Cervantes Square Foot and BSF Farm, a Learning Site for Agriculture located in Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City on the third day of the training. During the visit, the participants were able to see an established square-foot garden. A demonstration of the production and utilization of Black Soldier Fly was also delivered by the farm owner, Mr. Honorio S. Cervantes himself. During the afternoon session Ms. Teodosia D. Jaraba delivered a lecture on the basics of Composting.
During the closing ceremony, we are so honored that ARD Carlota Madriaga of DA RFO 10 came to grace the occasion. She mentioned applying the learnings that they have gained from the training and being more productive. Three participants expressed their impressions for the whole duration of the training. They also expressed their gratitude to ATI-RTC X Management, Resource Persons, facilitators, and co-participants. A special award was given to the participant with the highest increment in learning.
On September 22, 2023, ATI-RTC X provided the PWDs graduate the post-training support for the establishment of their individual container household gardening.
The Training on Urban Container Household Gardening was conducted on August 9-11, 2023 in Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City. (submitted by: Training Specialist III Teodosia D. Jaraba)
