SoCot eyes more home-based food gardens

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--Nutrition workers in South Cotabato have stepped up their campaign for the development of food gardens in local households.

Ma. Ana Uy, provincial nutrition action officer, said Monday they have partnered with barangay councils to promote the establishment of food gardens in more households throughout the province.

Uy said the initiative complements the government’s efforts to improve the nutritional status of children, achieve food security and food diversity as well as prevent possible food shortage during disasters.

Citing the results of the barangay profile survey conducted by barangay nutrition scholars, Uy said about 68 percent of the province’s around 200,000 households already have their own food gardens.

“These are home gardens planted with vegetables, fruits, trees, crops, domestic animals and herbs for consumption and additional income,” she said.

Uy, who also heads the community welfare development division of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said they are targeting to increase the number of food gardens to 80 percent of the area’s households.

She said the move is in partnership with various offices of the provincial government and other national government agencies.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Department of Agriculture have been assisting the establishment of household and community food gardens through the provision of planting materials and other inputs, she added.

Under the program, she said the food gardens were “designed to supply a staple-based diet, with a significant amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals.”

She said some residents often reason out that they lacked time to cultivate a food garden, but noted that having one actually saves time and money.

“They compensate for the reduction of time spent in buying produce in markets and groceries as food becomes directly accessible in backyards,” she said.

With South Cotabato being a largely agricultural area, Uy said growing crops at home should not be a problem.

“We are blessed with abundant and fertile lands for planting so let’s make use of them,” she added. (PNA)