The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently turned over its stock of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on vegetable production to the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
This is in support of DA’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program’s Urban Agriculture Project, which aims to disperse vegetable seeds to households nationwide.
A total of 1,000 copies of production guide IEC flyers of pole sitao, patola, tomato, ampalaya, and cucumber were shared to DA-BPI. These flyers will be distributed together with the vegetable seeds to households and other recipients.
Aside from these flyers, DOST-PCAARRD will be sending electronic copies of its IEC materials to DA-BPI for dispersal and greater reach.
“Through these IEC materials, we hope that Filipinos will have a better appreciation of urban agriculture and have the skills and knowledge on growing their own food,” said Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, PCAARRD Executive Director.
DA’s Urban Agriculture Project aims to secure safe food for families in the urban areas especially while strict quarantine is being implemented due to COVID-19.
PCAARRD is one of the sectoral councils of the DOST, which is mandated to formulate policies, plans, and programs for science and technology-based R&D in the different sectors under its concern. It coordinates, evaluates, and monitors the national R&D efforts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector. It also allocates government and external funds for R&D and generates resources to support its program.