STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan –“If you get a deeper understanding of life, everything is connected to the soil. You get your hands dirty to create something beautiful and useful.”
House Bill No. 720 known as the Urban Agriculture Act of 2013 is a bill that institutionalizes urban agriculture and vertical farming in high-urbanized cities nationwide. However, urban poor are most likely handicapped in terms of education and job opportunities. Thus, the Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center I conducted a Training on Urban Agriculture last December 14-15, 2017 at ATI-RTC I, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan.
Fifty (50) farmers from Barangay Mangin, Dagupan City underwent the training and were provided with the basic information and operation on how to start and establish urban agriculture systems.
ATI-RTC 1 staff served as resource speakers to the different topics pertaining to the training. Ms. Betty Grace Kanlas, Agriculturist II, gave emphasis on Urban Agriculture Program, basically in the regional level. Meanwhile, the topic on Waste Segregation at home and in the city was discussed by Krizel Joy Natividad, DMO I. Likewise, lecture and actual demonstration of vermicomposting and organic concoctions by Almera Montano, Agriculturist II.
One of the highlights of the training was the field visitation at Bonuan Boquig Elementary School: Gulayan sa Paaralan project of the school. Participants were able to interact with the pupils and teachers who were engaged in the project.
“Marami akong natutunan sa pagtatanim ng ibat-ibang halaman tulad ng gulay, na pwede palang magtanim kahit wala kang malaking lupa o malawak na hardin” Ms. Liwayway C. Salayog, one of the participants said. Natutunan ko rin na ang mga patapon ng mga containers, gulong at iba pa ay mainam pala na pagtamnan ng gulay at iba pang halaman, she added.
During the last day of the activity, participants were required to prepare an action plan to be implemented in their respective areas. ATI-RTC 1 together with the LGU of Mangaldan will observe in the implementation of their plan.