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Philippines: Quezon City project taps open spaces as food source

An urban farmer shows the fish she helped raise through the Grow QC Food Security program.

“Recognizing the importance of smallholder farmers as producers and supporting them during emergencies will allow their recovery in food production.”

The Philippine Star
September 3, 2021

Excerpt:

The Grow QC Food Security Initiative looks at two primary pillars to establish to ensure food security. According to Emmanuel Hugh Velasco, head of the Sustainable Development Authority and co-chair of Grow QC with Mayor Belmonte, food security is pivotal to a fulfilled life. “Our mental states are relieved through urban agriculture – because the very nature of it is grounding and reassuring. Many of us project ourselves onto the plants and vegetables we cultivate, seeing that yes, we too can triumph over adversity and become healthy and whole,” Velasco explained.

“That’s the mental/emotional benefit of these programs by Grow QC. Physically and biologically speaking, urban agriculture provides a direct source of food. It may start off as a tomato or a cucumber or two, but soon urban agriculture helps us become self-reliant. The ultimate goal for these cityscape farms however would be to make the surrounding neighborhood disaster-proof, in that they empower the community to thrive in the midst of adversity because they do not need to worry about what they are going to eat.”

Urban agriculture and rooftop farms don’t just happen overnight, though. Grow QC promotes and strengthens urban farming in the city through Joy of Urban Farming Project, where seed starter kits and food packs are distributed, and community farms established via multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Read the complete article here.