Philippines: Senator Villar – Practice urban agriculture
Villar has also been distributing free vegetable seeds nationwide to be used for home gardening.
By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Manilla Standard
Apr 21, 2024
Excerpt:
Senator Cynthia Villar has cited urban agriculture and home gardening as the answers to the country’s ballooning population and increasing food demand and consumption.
Villar, chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee, said she has been practicing urban agriculture and home gardening in her hometown Las Piñas. She has also been espousing these activities in other areas of the country.
The senator noted the significance of developing a “cash crop,” or agricultural products that can be grown while waiting for harvest season, and this includes planting vegetables, connecting them to consumers, and subscribing to other good agricultural practices.
She also mentioned that the Villar family has four farm schools located in the Las Piñas – Bacoor area for Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa and Bicol; San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan for Central, Northern Luzon and Cordillera provinces; San Miguel, Iloilo for Visayas and Davao City for Mindanao.
Villar has also been distributing free vegetable seeds nationwide to be used for home gardening. “This will ensure the availability of affordable and nutritious foods for Filipino families,” she said.
“This can also provide livelihood since the products are brought to the market,” the senator added during the Harvesting Festival and Farmer’s Field School Graduation of the Upscaling of the ‘Gulayan sa Palayan at Pagnenegosyo’ held in Castillejos, Zambales.
