BAGUIO CITY – The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) reports a significant increase in urban agriculture initiatives, with residents establishing rooftop and backyard gardens to enhance food sustainability.
Dr. Silardo Bested, CVAO head, announced that the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program has expanded to 94 school gardens, surpassing the initial target of 40. Additionally, there are now 1,757 home gardens, with 6,121 seedling distributions exceeding the 4,000 goal. He noted, “The remarkable outcomes in the implementation of agriculture interventions that demonstrated significant dedication in exceeding targets across various initiatives improve the current state of agriculture in the urban center.”
Beyond vegetables, the CVAO has distributed 1,166 chickens, 30 bee colonies, and 10,550 fish fingerlings for inland aquaculture. Dr. Bested explained, “We give out free agriculture products so that we can encourage the residents to grow food whether vegetables, fish or animals on their small spaces and pots. This will ensure available food supply for the family’s consumption or income for the extra production that they sell to friends or neighbors.”
To support marketing efforts, the city organizes farmers’ market days and Kadiwa activities, utilizing Kadiwa trucks to transport goods between farms and markets, thereby increasing profitability. The CVAO also continues to improve agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation systems, production facilities, farm-to-market roads, and seedling nurseries, aiming to enhance farming efficiency and reduce post-harvest losses.
These initiatives underscore Baguio City’s commitment to sustainability, food security, and empowering local communities with the knowledge and resources for long-term impact.