A total of 45 urban and peri-urban or emerging urban barangays have availed of free planting tools and seeds from the National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program being implemented in the city through the City Agriculturist Office (CAgro).
Etchie Rose Nalzaro, CAgro Agriculturist II, said that groups from various barangays in the city were registered in the program in 2024 and their planting tools and seedlings were distributed starting in February this year.
“Nakadawat sila og 8 in 1 vegetable seeds, eight ka klase sa isa ka pack dili ingon dinaghan pero ok siya for urban areas and peri-urban dako kaayo nga tabang, starter para maka-establish sila sa ilahang garden (They received 8 in 1 vegetable seeds, eight kinds in one pack. It is not much but it is enough for urban areas and peri-urban areas, it is a huge help as starter for them to establish their garden),” she said.
Planting tools, such as seedlings, seedling tray and boxes for hydroponics– a technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil– are also part of the package.
She said for hydroponics, the assistance offered depended on the areas where it will be placed.
“Naa ta’y hydroponics nga para sa dako nga area kadtong naay pump, pero kung pang household lang naa ta atong box lang sya (There is hydroponics for big areas with pumps, and we also have hydroponics for households),” she said, adding that they also distributed the box and the hydroponic solution for free.
Before receiving the free seedlings and planting materials, the beneficiaries were given a short orientation. The orientation is still available for those who are interested to avail of the program.
Those who are willing to avail of this program are encouraged to form groups so that they can be given enough fund for a project. The applicants for NUPAP will have to submit a letter of intent to the CAgro, get validated, and endorsed to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Nalzaro urged home owners to form groups if they want to put up their own project so that many more can benefit from the garden yield, and at the same time, their demo area can also inspire others to build their own.
In 2023, through the NUNAP, two barangays received grow-out nursery and Malagos green house with hydroponics.
She said that the NUPAP flagship program of DA supplements the existing urban gardening program of Davao City. It is the program’s main goal to ensure food security, create livelihood opportunities, and to showcase technologies in the urban area, especially in gardening and community gardening.
She added that aside from vertical gardening and urban gardening, NUPAP offers assistance for rabbitry and fish ponds, as long as an invidual can meet the space requirements. CIO
