On May 27, 2024, Brgy. Sta. Rita in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, hosted the ceremonial planting for the Vegetable Derby with Harvest Festival, marking the official launch of the project under the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP).
This initiative aims to inspire urban residents to engage in vegetable farming, boost productivity, and encourage community participation in agricultural endeavors.
The activity is a collaborative effort led by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA, the City Agricultural Services Division (CASD) of Calapan City, and various seed companies, including Allied Botanical Corporation, East-West, Ramgo, and Kaneko Seeds.
Attendees included Calapan City Mayor Marilou F. Morillo; NUPAP Point Person of ATI-MIMAROPA Roseanne D. Nilo; Assistant Center Director of ATI-MIMAROPA Norberto C. Maur; CASD Focal Person Jasper Adriatico; CASD staff; representatives from seed companies; and the Sta. Rita Farmers Association.
This collaboration highlights a commitment to improving urban agriculture. The vegetable derby exemplifies the power of community-driven agricultural projects, and the harvest festival is scheduled for July 2024.
