DA-7 pushes backyard gardening

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Created on Tuesday, 14 July 2020

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture in Central Visayas has encouraged everyone to plant their own vegetables and have a fresh and nutritious food at home especially during this time of health crisis.

DA-7 regional executive director Salvador D. Diputado also asked nutrition frontliners, advocates, and stakeholders to produce their own food like planting vegetables in their backyards.

Diputado said backyard vegetable gardening is an alternative way to be productive and to have readily available source of food while staying at home due to the community quarantine implemented by the government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Diputado, in a statement, said that in this time of pandemic where movement is limited and controlled, the public should not waste their time. The DA-7 official said that it is very important to have a healthy and nutritious food for stronger body resistance and immune system.

He said the DA-7 is giving vegetable seeds through the different local government units or to walk-in clients in their office. Diputado said the public may also source out their seeds from the vegetables they bought from the market and grocery stores.

"When you buy vegetables in the market, never throw the seeds. Use these (seeds) in planting vegetables," he said.

Diputado also said that planting vegetables doesn't require large areas. He said one can plant veggies using discarded containers. Diputado said that having no large space to plant is not an excuse not to plant vegetables and produce their own food because container gardening is always an option.

Diputado suggested to plant early maturing vegetables like kangkong, pechay, eggplant, ampalaya, okra, tomatoes, etc.

"If we plant our own veggies, we are assured that our food is fresh, chemical free and safe to eat," he said.

Diputado’s call for backyard gardening is also in line with the country’s ongoing celebration of the 46th Nutrition Month this July.

This year’s theme is "Batang Pinoy, Sana Tall...Iwas Stunting, Sama all! Iwas All din sa COVID-19".

Nutrition Month is celebrated every month of July as mandated by Presidential Decree No. 491 or the Nutrition Act of the Philippines. FPL (FREEMAN)