FARMERS in Iloilo City should cluster themselves to get higher funding support from the government to level up the quality and volume of rice and vegetable production, leading to a more food-sufficient urban center.
Iloilo City Agriculture Office and Iloilo City Farmers’ Federation need to craft a Cluster Development Plan for urban farmers to guide the Department of Agriculture (DA) in rendering necessary inputs, facilities, and other interventions.
According to DA Western Visayas regional executive director Remelyn Recoter, capacitating urban farmers is imperative as the demand for food from locals and tourists continues to grow, considering that Iloilo City is the region’s center of economic activities.
“We appreciate the city government’s food security programs and efforts, especially during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We partnered with them in putting up the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita USWAG Rolling Stores in several districts in Iloilo City. The USWAG Rolling Stores provide a closer and direct link between farmers and consumers amid the enforcement of community lockdowns,” said Recoter during the 124th DA Anniversary Regional Celebration held on June 29.
Based on the survey conducted by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2021, there are over 300 hectares of rainfed urban farms in Iloilo City devoted to the cultivation of rice and vegetables despite the apparent industrialization.
The joint support of DA and the Iloilo City Government had shifted urban dwellers from mere consumers to food producers. Decreasing their food dependency on other local government units results in better nutrition and high accessibility to inexpensive plant-based food.
“Let us use our available planting areas and embrace the technologies fitted for the urban environment. Farmers should adopt practices like hydroponics, greenhouses, and communal and container gardening,” said Iloilo City Agriculturist Iñigo Garingalao.
The Iloilo City Council has recently passed the ordinance institutionalizing urban farming. The landmark ordinance mandates all 180 barangays to venture into urban agriculture by establishing vertical, container, or communal gardening systems. The Iloilo City Agriculture Office will start orienting barangay leaders and subdivision owners on the ordinance to ensure food adequacy and generate additional income sources for urban food producers.
With only P1.5-million starting funds intended to purchase seeds, vermicasts, and other inputs, and the hiring of additional personnel to do extension works, Garingalao hopes to lobby for additional support from the DA to materialize the city’s food security goal.
The city government currently implements the program on Youth Container Gardening for disaster-prone coastal barangays and Iloilo Riverbanks through the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Iloilo City Agriculture Office. (DA-6/PN)
