To encourage more people to engage in urban agriculture, the Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center 02 in partnership with other stakeholders continues to conduct series of seminars on urban gardening. Five batches of the said seminar were conducted in different Barangays in Jones, Isabela and Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya.
“Ang Urban Gardening training ay malaking tulong sa aming buhay, ang aking pinag aralan ay nais ko pong ibahagi sa aking kabarangayan na hindi lang pala bulaklak ang pwedeng itanim sa ating paligid, kahit maliit na space ay pwede tayong magtanim ng gulay sa pamamagitan ng vertical garden na pwede nating gawing beautification sa ating harapan. Maraming salamat po,” said Ms. Ariane Mae C. Sarangaya one of the participants from of Brgy. San Isidro, Jones, Isabela.
A total of 125 peri-urban dwellers attended the five batches of seminar that were conducted on May 02, 2023 at ATI-RTC 02 Malasin, San Mateo, Isabela and May 29, 2023 at St. Joseph Husband of Mary Parish, Bgry. Poblacion, Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya.
The participants were taught about urban gardening concepts and benefits, types of urban garden and natural farming inputs (NFIs). They also had a hands-on activity on container gardening and potting media preparation. Each participant also received assorted vegetable seeds, a seedling tray, and poly bag as a starter kit.
“Ako’y nagagalak at nagpapasalamat sa seminar na ito. Sa kabila ng aking kaalaman patungkol sa upland farming ay marami pa akong napulot na mga aral gaya ng kahalagahan ng backyard gardening at paggawa ng natural na mga pataba upang mabawasan ang paggamit ng mga commercial fertilizer at itong aral na ibinahagi nyo sa amin ay malaking bagay sa amin,” said Mr. Allan P. Galindan one of the participants fromof Brgy. Poblacion, Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya.
Urban agriculture contributes to food security and food safety by increasing the amount of food available to urban dwellers. Urban poor families could grow their own food right in their backyards or in any available space around their households. It makes fresh vegetables and fruits more accessible to urban consumers. Engaging in urban agriculture could help mitigate hunger and malnutrition. It also promotes sustainable ecological practices-including waste management.
