NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA) – The city government of Naga has tied up with the Naga View Adventist College (NVAC) in boosting urban agriculture in the city through a recently-opened techno-demo farm in Barangay. Panicuason.
The City Agriculture Office (CAO) will deliver assistance on modern agricultural technologies in seed and crop production, and will provide the necessary equipment for farmers under the Independent Component City Agricultural and Fishery Council (ICCAFC). The school owns the one-hectare lot that will be used as a demonstration farm.
Mayor Nelson Legacion said this partnership will allow farmers as well as communities to ensure the availability of food through urban planting, and allow them to profits from their harvests.
He said it will also bring the farm extension services of the local government unit closer to the farmers in Barangay Panicuason, and neighboring barangays, and provide a site for distribution of their agricultural products.
Officials of Naga City Agriculture Office and Naga View Adventist College as well as members of the Independent Component City Agricultural and Fishery Council pose for a photo at the newly opened demo farm at Barangay Panicuason, Naga City. (Credit: Independent Component City Agricultural and Fishery Council Facebook page)
NVAC president Raymond Echavez said that every three months, they will conduct a harvest festival that may eventually develop into an agri-tourism destination where visitors can pick fresh fruits and vegetables as they please.
The ICCAFC is currently composed of more than 30 farmers’ cooperatives and organizations in Naga City. Its president, Alfred Gatongay, commended these efforts because this could yield bigger high value crop production among them, and train farmers so they become farmer-educators in the future.
Gatongay said a variety of crops may be planted in Panicuason. They include calamansi, cabbage, broccoli, eggplants, onions, and many more. In the past, they were also able to produce fruits such as watermelon, melon, and honeydew.
Naga View Adventist College president Raymond Echavez says the land for the demo farm is already cultivated and ready for planting. (Credit: ICCAFC Facebook page)
To start off the summer season, farmers are preparing to plant string beans, ampalaya, squash and okra.
ICCAFC co-chair Frank Mendoza thanked the LGU Naga and the NVAC for the collaboration that can aid in seed propagation, food security and agricultural services among farmers’ communities in the city.
On the other hand, Echavez plans to advocate a vegetarian lifestyle among Bicolanos.
“As much as possible, we go back to our original habit of eating vegetables, and only meat during special occasions,” he said. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)
