CEBU CITY - In a move to bolster food security at the household level, the Cebu City Agriculture Department (CAD) is ramping up efforts to promote backyard farming among its residents.
According to Philippines News Agency, assistant head of the Cebu City CAD, the local government is actively supporting the initiative by providing seedlings and offering training to residents interested in establishing their own backyard farms. Gesta emphasized that the lack of extensive land should not deter families from engaging in agriculture, advocating for the use of containers as alternative planting spaces for vegetable production.
The initiative aims to utilize customizable agricultural plots for backyard production, enabling urban dwellers to contribute to their food security. Warwin Anadia, an agricultural technologist with CAD, mentioned that the department would supply up to 20 seedlings to individuals keen on starting their backyard farming projects. He added that those requiring more than the initial allotment could submit a letter of request to the CAD office to receive additional seedlings, underlining that the program is specifically designed to benefit city residents.
Highlighting the success of urban agriculture initiatives, Anadia pointed to the People's Farm at South Road Properties, launched in June of the previous year. The farm has seen enthusiastic participation from volunteers across different barangays in Cebu City, yielding a variety of agricultural produce and serving as a testament to the viability and benefits of urban farming practices.