Mountain Province starts survival gardening program

BONTOC, Mountain Province-- The provincial government, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Cordillera and regional Agricultural Training Institute, has introduced the  FAITH gardening technique in the province as a means to address food  inadequacy brought about by lockdowns due to the COVID-19.

Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. signed April 3 implementation of the project dubbed “Survival Gardening (SG) to establish the Food Always In the Home (FAITH),” to enhance food efficiency among farmers.

                “Our people have experienced a great loss in this calamity we are in now. Most of those affected are our laborers and our farmers. We, therefore, thank the Department of Agriculture for readily acting on our province’s proposal to help our farmers rise above this hardship we are currently experiencing,” Lacwasan said.

The SG - FAITH was conceptualized by the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Provincial Project Management and Support Office together with the Provincial Agriculturist Office and the Provincial Veterinary Office.

“Project SG - FAITH revolves around organic backyard gardening and is in support to the free range chicken raising which is a program of the provincial government,” said Provincial Veterinarian Rodelio B. Bagawi.

                “The project will be funded by the SAAD.

It is in line with the 'Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat' (ALPAS) Kontra sa COVID-19 Program, otherwise known as the 'Plant, Plant, Plant' program - a program proposed by the Department of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar. It is a DA initiative to ensure sustained food production and availability, food accessibility and affordability amidst the threats of COVID-19,” said Beverly T. Pekas, Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer for Mountain Province.

Total project cost is P3, 323,625.00 which will be used for the procurement of agricultural inputs for poultry-raising and vegetable production, Pekas added.

Per approved proposal, the barangay-beneficiaries of the project are  Bagnen Oriente, Bagnen Proper, Balintaugan, Monamon Norte, Otucan Sur, and Otucan Norte of the Municipality of Bauko; Gueday and Tamboan of Besao; Alab Oriente and Mainit of Bontoc; Aguid, Bangaan, Fidelisan, and Madongo of the Municipality of Sagada; and Anabel in Sadanga

Meanwhile, interested individuals or groups, mostly chicken raisers, are asked to prepare their pots and plots and send the pictures thru the PVO social media/Facebook then they pick up the seeds at the PVO office in Bontoc or in the municipal agriculture office.  The PVO also uses the social media as a mode of monitoring.

PVO dispersed on April 8, the vegetable seeds to the first batch of clients and at the same time received more seeds from private partners (donors) to be distributed to more beneficiaries.

As of April 11 update, 124 beneficiaries already availed of the seeds. (NDRA, ESB/Mtn. Province Provincial Veterinary Office)