More greenhouses at SRP pushed

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Department of Agriculture wants more budget to build greenhouses for urban farming at the South Road Properties (SRP).

City agriculturist Joey Baclayon sees the need to build more greenhouses after seeing that the technology they are using for urban farming is working.

The greenhouse at the SRP was built to showcase that regardless of the weather condition plants can still survive in the urban area with the right technology.

“Mabuhi sa patag, given naa tay technology nga green house, net house nato… Gitawag ni siya nga micro-environment man ni siya,” Baclayon explains, in a report of the City Public Information Office.

Should it rain, it can be collected and stored for irrigation purposes.

“Dili siya mauwanan, but of course, kung nay uwan ato pud makolekta ang uwan pud kay naa tay gutter collectors…i-store nato sa atong tangke para ang tubig sa uwan mismo gamiton nato para irrigation,” Baclayon added.

Baclayon stressed that they are also using organic fertilizers.

Currently, the city agriculture department is helping the wives of fisherfolk to learn the ropes of urban farming for additional income to support their family instead of the government giving them direct cash assistance.

“Ang ilang gitanom, ila pud na siyang ibaligya ilaha na pud ang income. Duha man ni siya. Naa tay outdoor cultivation nya naa pud tay indoor…tabang ni sila, sharing para partners nato sila,” shares Baclayon.

In return, they are encouraged to teach others that want to learn urban farming.

“Rather than ato silang tagaan og ayuda, ato silang gi-invite para nga motabang nato,” Baclayon said.

“Sila ang mo-produce…sila ang motanom, tagaan nato sila’g inputs, resources…tudloan pud nato sila unsaon pagtanom,” he added.

Among the vegetables that they produce at the SRP greenhouse include lettuce, chili, string beans, okra, etc.

With this, Baclayon hopes to get more budget from the city government for more greenhouses for food production.

“Ato ning himoong food production area using this technology,” Baclayon said. — FPL (FREEMAN)