The Isabela province benefited from the 200 home gardens and 60 community gardens established through the GALING-PCAARRD program. This initiative is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
The project, “S&T-based Home Gardening towards a Sustainable Source of Food for Families,” led by Dr. Florenda B. Temanel of the Isabela State University (ISU), aims to provide a sustainable source of food for families in different communities to complement the Pagkain at Kabuhayan sa Pamayanan (PKP). PKP is a component of the DOST-PCAARRD’s Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives Towards National Goals (GALING-PCAARRD) Kontra COVID-19 Program.
A total of 500 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Alicia, Echague, San Isidro, and Cordon in Isabela were trained in vegetable production, marketing, and food processing. In addition, 3,500 seed packs, 1,500 seedlings, and assorted vegetable production guides (ampalaya, pechay, kalabasa, upo, okra, patola, sitaw, talong, siling haba, and kamatis), were distributed to partner households.
According to Dr. Temanel, the establishment of the home and community vegetable gardens provided alternative livelihood for the households and provided additional savings to beneficiaries during imposed lockdowns in partner municipalities. Vegetables produced from said gardens served as a healthy food source especially in areas where wet markets were inaccessible.
She added that the spirit of bayanihan among neighbors was evident as some opted to give vegetables for free.
In the project’s final stage, Dr. Rodel G. Maghirang, retired Professor of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and project’s S&T consultant, recommended seed saving, crop succession, and crop rotation to ensure its sustainability and improve future-related projects.
The terminal review was attended by the project team members from ISU, DOST-PCAARRD representatives headed by the Deputy Executive Directors for ARMSS and R&D, Dr. Melvin B. Carlos and Dr. Feliciano G. Calora, Jr., respectively, and the Crops Research Division led by the Officer in Charge, Dr. Allan B. Siano.
