ROXAS City – Around 7,800 vegetable seedlings were distributed by the Capiz provincial government thru its Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) to 240 households in eight barangays in the city in view of the urban backyard gardening project.
OPA Public Information Officer Florie May Castro said about 630 households of the city’s coastal barangays will be distributed 18,900 vegetable seedlings this October until November of this year.
“Recently, assorted vegetable seedlings of ampalaya, okra, tomato, talong, and siling pansigang were given to household beneficiaries in Jumaguicjic, Barangay Onse and Inzo,” Castro noted, adding that the initiative has the support of the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 6.
The OPA has partnered with the Capiz Environment and Natural Resources Office (CaPENRO) in the project implementation.
“The urban backyard gardening will make food accessible and lower the household expenses amid the COVID-19 health crisis,” said Capiz OPA head Sylvia dela Cruz.
Under the project, vegetable seedlings, organic fertilizer and sprayers are distributed to urban and fisherfolk households in Capiz as a way to promote food security.
A training on the technicalities on how to cultivate and properly care for the vegetable seedlings is also provided by OPA for those who need or request for it.
The project was initiated last March under the “Serbisyong Kabalaka” of Gov. Esteban Contreras in order to provide Capizeño households access to safe, nutritious and diverse food with possible income opportunities.(with PIA-Capiz/PN)
