Aimed at equipping participants with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to cultivate crops sustainably in urban environments through soilless farming techniques, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in MIMAROPA in partnership with the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) MIMAROPA conducted a Training on Urban Agriculture through Soilless Crop Production on July 29-31, 2024 in Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido, Palawan.
The training provided a comprehensive introduction to hydroponics, covering essential topics such as the significance of using the right nutrient solutions and exploring various hydroponic systems. Participants also engaged in hands-on activities, including setting up their own hydroponic systems and planting herbs and strawberries using passive hydroponics using 1.5-liter plastic bottles.
Moreover, the training addressed climate change and its impacts on agriculture, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity conservation and strategies for reducing agriculture's carbon footprint. In addition, participants were given the chance to collaborate on their re-entry plans for their respective associations, which will serve as a guide when they apply what they learned about hydroponics to their farms.
“Sa tatlong araw ng pag-aaral, marami akong natutunan sa hydroponics farming. Hindi alintana ang edad; kung gusto mong matuto, maraming bagay ang matutunan. Maganda ang hydroponics dahil hindi ito harmful sa environment, mababa ang management, at hindi kailangan ng maraming tao”, Ms. Elenita Timbacaya, farmer member of the Corong-Corong Farmers Association, shared.
A total of 27 participants, including 13 members of the Maranlao Farmers Association who are beneficiaries of the DA-RFO MIMAROPA National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program (NUPAP) Green House setup, received a starter kit containing five types of vegetable seeds and hydroponic solutions to support their new agricultural ventures at the end of the training.
