THE city government of Taguig is implementing an urban farming project in line with its program to promote a green environment and a healthier lifestyle for its residents.
The administration of Mayor Lani Cayetano also intends to preserve at least 25 hectares of agricultural land in Taguig in addition to 202 hectares it has managed to retain for the cultivation of melon, rice and highvalue crops.
City Agriculture Office chief Emelita Solis said this size of agricultural land is still economically functional despite the inevitable conversion of land into residential, commercial, and industrial uses characteristic of highly urbanized cities.
“To achieve this goal, the city government is aggressively promoting urban farming and gardening. This goal is not prompted by nostalgia for an agricultural past, but for pragmatic reasons,” Solis said.
The program favors organic farming where pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones are not used on crops. Organically grown products are better for the environment and for a person’s health, Solis said.
