ACTIVE YOUTH GROUP. Photo collage shows the various projects of the Pinablin 4-H Calasiao Inc. amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The group primarily aims to awaken the interest of young people in agriculture at the same time developing them holistically. (Photo courtesy of Clover Calasiao's Facebook account)
CALASIAO, Pangasinan – The Pinablin 4-H Calasiao Inc., a non-government youth group in this town, has been active in various programs and projects, helping not only its members but also the communities amid the pandemic.
True to its goal to awaken the youth's interest in agriculture since it was established with the help of the local government unit (LGU) of Calasiao in 2016, the pandemic did not stop the members from innovating and striving for themselves and their communities.
In an interview on Friday, Pinablin 4-H Calasiao Inc. president Gerald Quinit said they have launched last year the Project Boosting Agriculture in the New Normal in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“Sa pamamagitan ng proyekto na ito, maipakita natin na ang agrikultura ay kaakibat ng pagbangon ng produksyon ng pangunahing pagkain para maiwasan ang pagkagutom (Through this project, we wanted to show that agricultural project is alongside the increase in production of basic food items to prevent hunger),” he said.
Through this project, the group distributed vegetable seedlings in exchange for plastic bottles, animal manure that they use as fertilizer in the 4-H farms, sacks, among others.
“We wanted to encourage people in the communities to plant their own food,” Quinit added.
He said they also partnered with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Ilocos regional office for online seminars on urban and organic gardening.
“Those who attended the seminar were given garden set starter kits,” he said.
The harvested products from their organic gardens were later on donated to the LGU Calasiao’s isolation facilities for the frontline workers.
“We acknowledged their role in this pandemic thus we gave them the products so they could eat healthily,” Quinit said.
Aside from these projects, their livelihood programs in the 10 member-barangays and four member-schools in the town have been continuing.
Quinit said one of the member schools, the Buenlag National High School, won an award last year under the Back to Basic Farm to School Movement Towards Food Sustainability as among the top 10 accomplished youth organizations for their “Talong (eggplant) Burger”.
“Gumawa sila ng innovation like the Talong Burger. Nakatulong ito sa studies nila kasi yong napagbebentahan ng product may kita sila na nagagamit nila sa school at the same time napapakain din nila ng healthy ang mga undernourished learners (They made on innovation like the Talong Burger. It helped in their studies because the sales from the burger were used in their school and at the same time they were able to feed healthy the undernourished learners),” he said.
He added that the group’s income from their livelihood programs was allotted to the students and out-of-school youth members.
Pinablin 4-H Calasiao Inc. is also involved in tree-planting activities and Brigada Eskwela, among others.
“We thank the LGU Calasiao headed by Mayor Joseph Arman Bauzon, the provincial government of Pangasinan, the Department of Agriculture, and the ATI for all their assistance to our group,” he said.
4-H stands for Heart, Hand, Head, and Health as they aim to develop the youth holistically. (PNA)
