ILOILO City – This southern city’s urban farming program dubbed Rise-A-Farm is one of the best practice projects presented during the recent International Gastronomy Forum in Macau, China.
This, as Iloilo City joined the International Cities of Gastronomy Fest in the said country with other Creative City of Gastronomy (CoG) cities worldwide.
Rise-A-Farm, which stands for Resilient, Integrated, and Sustainable Environment for Agriculture Farming, is Iloilo City’s best practice on sustainability and food security focused on agricultural development to fight hunger in the city.
Its continuity is one the city’s commitments intertwined with the attainment of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The program was presented during the forum by the Iloilo City Government’s UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network (UCCN) CoG Focal Point Person Lea Lara, with Executive Assistant for Special Projects Leny Ledesma.
“Iloilo City was one of the 14 cities that presented a best practice related to the commitment of the Cities of Gastronomy cluster to help in the achievement of the SDGs,” said Lara.
Other Creative Cities that also presented their respective best practices were Chaozhou, Huaian, Kermanshah, Bohicon, Nanjing (City of Literature), Merida, Bergamo, Portoviejo, Parma, Florianopolis, Jingdeshen (City of Crafts and Folk Arts), and Arequipa.
Moreover, the Rise-A-Farm program is also a finalist in the “Walang Gutom Awards” of the Galing Pook Foundation and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The “Walang Gutom Awards” seeks local government units (LGUs) with the best anti-hunger initiatives and practices on food security.
“The network is excited to know if the program wins as an initiative to end hunger and poverty at the Walang Gutom Awards,” Lara added.
No less than Mayor Jerry P. Treñas will present the Rise-A-Farm program during the final round on June 25 via the online platform. Of the 17 finalists, only 10 will be declared winners and will be awarded on June 26, 2024.
Started in 2020, one of the components of the Rise-A-Farm program is the establishment of JPT Ediscapes (edible landscapes) or communal gardens, which employ either integrated farming, container, vertical or street gardening depending on the availability of space in the barangays.
From an initial of 12 city barangays, there are now 71 barangays maintaining communal gardens as of this year, which provide sustainable, affordable and accessible food source to the people in the communities.
Aside from vegetables, herbs, shrubs, and fruit-bearing trees, resident farmers also raise poultry and livestock like native chickens, goat and ducks as well as go into fish farming.
On top of this is the Iloilo River Fish Stock Enhancement Program where the city government and partners maintain regular fish dispersal at the river which is now enjoyed by the locals as their source of livelihood and sustenance.
“Through this program, Iloilo City was able to prove that having green spaces amidst congested urban settings is doable, that we can address food shortage and ensure food security,” said City Agriculturist Iñigo Garingalao.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city government’s Uswag Community Kitchens under the supervision of Raisa Treñas were mobilized, the barangays’ community gardens made significant contributions by sending some of their harvests to be cooked and fed to the affected residents and frontliners.
Buntatala, Jaro Punong Barangay Starlene Hosinilla shared that using their vegetable harvest, they likewise activated their own community kitchen and conducted feeding program especially for children in the barangays. Some of the harvests were also shared with the residents.
Meanwhile, Marivic Pastolero of Bito-on, Jaro and the current president of the Iloilo City Farmers Federation, shared that through the Rise-A-Farm program, local farmers and entrepreneurs are given a huge support by providing them a venue to sell their agricultural produce through a regular holding of “Merkado Lokal” trade fair at the City Hall grounds.
Likewise, the Uswag Rolling Store Project is also part of the initiative that aims to bring local farms produce closer to consumers.
Another important component of the Rise-A-Farm program is the provision of technical assistance and trainings at the 4, 000 square meter lot of Uswag Nursery in Barangay Tacas, Jaro.
Assorted vegetable seedlings, vermicast, garden tools and materials, and financial aid are provided to qualified farmers.
Aside from the Office of City Agriculturist, Rise-a-Farm is also backed by the City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Local Economic Enterprise Office and Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office.
Vic Salas, a physician and writer, who joined the recent JPT Ediscape tour, described the project as an “eye opener and inspiring set of initiatives.”
He was very impressed of it considering that all these just started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I felt a sense of pride, volunteerism, ownership from the people we talked to, mostly the barangay officials, and agriculture office staff,” he said.
“Urban gardens are feasible and have the potential to help reduce malnutrition, improve livelihood and income, improve food security, reduce solid and plastic waste (especially because they use a lot of discarded plastic containers for the plants), engender community participation and solidarity, perhaps even reduce dependence on big vegetable growers in the longer term,” Salas added./PN
