Agriculturist Jomar Tabor (in far left) demonstrates plant management practices to Manila Boys Town Center representatives. (photo by Jonarex Miral)
METRO MANILA—Green gardens are redesigning the city fabric as the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) intensifies its urban agriculture program through a series of partnerships with different communities and organizations.
The said program, led by the ATI-Partnerships and Accreditation Division, aims to assist city residents to integrate farming into their daily activities through the establishment of urban farms.
In the recent urban agriculture campaign of the Institute, youth representatives, parents, and barangay officials of Roque 2 Compound in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Quezon City learned basic urban farming technologies.
This activity, dubbed as, “Glamourizing Farming through Urban Agriculture: Metropolitan Youth in Sustainable and Healthy Living,” intends to help urban youth understand the value of growing their own food. Moreover, it aims to introduce the principles of the 4-H Club and eventually equip the youth to establish 4-H groups in their respective localities.
Aside from lectures and demonstrations on urban agriculture, the participants also received farm inputs to create a communal urban farm in their area. ATI-PAD staff, Mary Joy Hilot and Lito Tuprio, served as resource persons during the activity held last July 20.
Meanwhile, ATIng Gulayan Street Caravan headed to Manila Boys Town Center in Parang, Marikina and Quirino High School in Project 3, Quezon City. This program, in line with the Department of Agriculture’s thrust on food security, showcased replicable technologies in plant management.
Among the technologies and practices highlighted were the production of organic concoctions, seed sowing, and recyclable container gardening. Agriculturists Romermart Aubigne Peñamora and Jomar Tabor from ATI-PAD were the speakers during the activity.
Street caravan participant Trisha Mae Busment, of Quirino High School, said that she appreciated all the topics discussed. “I learned many new things about urban agriculture,” she remarked.
These street caravans in the Manila Boys Town Center and Quirino High School were held last July 23 and July 29, respectively.