Catanduanes - The provincial government of Catanduanes, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture in Bicol (DA-5), is set to modernize its agricultural sector by launching a plant nursery and a greenhouse equipped with a hydroponics system. These facilities, aimed at boosting local farming capabilities, are under construction at the capitol grounds as part of the DA-5 National Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Program.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Provincial Agriculturist, in a phone interview on Tuesday, the local government has provided the land and will also fund the operation and maintenance of these facilities. "By next month, they will be operational. We will have readily available seedlings for our local farmers and it will help in promoting urban gardening," Tria stated. The initiative is designed to distribute seedlings and saplings not only to local farmers but also to schools and residents for projects like "Gulayan sa Barangay" (village vegetable farming), contributing to food sufficiency in the region.
The project, which is part of a 15-year agreement with DA-Bicol, aims to enhance local agricultural outputs significantly. The nursery, with a project cost of almost PHP600,000, will feature 30 units of grow-out tables and 104 cells of seedling trays. Meanwhile, the greenhouse, which includes a hydroponics system, is built with an investment of PHP988,000 and is equipped with 1,200 pieces of hydroponics cups and foam/media, 240 meters of hydroponics channel, and nutrient solution. "This will be a big help, especially to our local farmers. This infrastructure will enable local farmers to produce crops year-round in greenhouses," added Tria.