The City Agriculturist Office (CAGRO) on Monday bared its move to strengthen household gardening, especially in urban areas, to promote food sufficiency through free seedling distribution.
CAGRO Officer-in-Charge Dr. Antonio Obsioma, in an interview on Monday, said that they have available stocks for distribution to households that will make a request. This is part of the strategy to ensure food sufficiency during the oil crisis and in light of the looming El Niño phenomenon.
“Ang unang una siyempre mag provide ta og subsidy sa ilaha naa na’y naka ready na seeds and vegetables gipakusgan pud nato ang household gardening labi na sa urban areas para mag produce sila og ilang food (First and foremost, of course, we will provide them with subsidies. We already have seeds and vegetables prepared, and we have also strengthened household gardening, especially in urban areas, so they can produce their own food),” Obsioma said.
Obsioma also added that they have plans to cluster vegetable production for the operation of the Davao City Food Terminal Complex.
To avail of the seeds, Obsioma said that Dabawenyos only need to reach out to the main office of the City Agriculturist Office located at the Davao City Hall Annex Building along Magallanes Street, fronting the Sangguniang Panlungsod Building.
Seedlings are also available at district offices.
“Ang Davao City wala man ta nagpabaya kung unsa ang tanan suporta nga pwde mahatag ginahimo sa Davao City (Davao City has not been neglectful; whatever support that can be provided, Davao City has made sure to give it),” he said.
He added that insofar as subsidies for farmers during the oil crisis are concerned, they have partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Department of Agriculture for assistance.
CAGRO also held meetings with hito and tilapia farmers to identify the problems they face in production and to come up with ways to strengthen hito and tilapia production.
Obsioma said that they plan to strengthen root crop production in Davao City to provide an alternative to rice in case the city experiences a low supply.
“So gusto nato nga naay alternatibo ang rice mao na ang root crops and also kaning white corn unta (We want to have alternatives to rice, such as root crops and also white corn),” he said. CIO Written by: K.Cañedo Edited by: A.Nawal