LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) – Residents in this capital town may soon be growing their own vegetables following their training on hydroponics kitchen garden
In line with efforts to promote sustainable farming in one’s own household.
The training conducted by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), Horticulture Research and Training Institute (HORTI), and the Benguet State University (BSU), gave participants a chance to have hands-on experience in creating their own hydroponics setup.
The initiative aims to give the participants an opportunity to provide a reliable food source for their family that will help them save, and a chance to earn extra income if they sell their products in the market.
The older adults, solo parents, and youth were the primary targets of the activity. They brought their own plastic containers while the organizers provided the other necessary tools and equipment such as liquid fertilizer and seedlings.
HORTI senior science research specialist Amelia Kimen discussed hydroponics and its advantages and disadvantages. She explained that with hydroponics, plants grow faster and yield more because it is a controlled nature of gardening. Also, hydroponics can make plants grow year-round and can conserve water because of its setup.
These are among the reasons why hydroponics can solve the community’s issue in food supply caused by the industrialization of farmlands in the locality.
Hydroponics practitioner Fredie Ayawan shared how to make the hydroponics kitchen garden setup.
“Tapnu kasla masolusyunan tayo, at least nga agkaroon tayo pay laeng iti vegetables. Agkaroon pagmulaan, makan uray maawanen diyay kuna tayo nga agricultural land,” Ayawan said.
Other discussions during the training are insect pest management of vegetable crops and crop disease management in small-scale gardening.
The MAO aims to follow up with the participants to check on their home gardens to help and support them in their hydroponics journey. (JDP/DEG/Janine Laureta & Je Marie Dannang-PIA CAR-SLU Interns)
