Two years ago, when the world was still in the throes of the COVID-19 virus, people turned to farming in their homes to escape the reality of being confined indoors, without much to do. But what was supposed to be a pastime became more than that, because a mere hobby of growing plants in urbanized areas proved practical and healthy.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), urban agriculture refers to the “growing, processing and distribution of food crops and animal products, by and for the local community, within an urban environment.”
Since the rise of urban agriculture among Filipinos, the DA has been promoting it to keep Filipinos’ food secure. The agency has incentivized the practice, providing seminars to raise awareness.
It disproves a longstanding belief that growing food within the metro and urbanized areas is nearly impossible. With the proper materials and imagination, there are endless possibilities on how individuals can grow food and enjoy its benefits.
Bringing food to peoples’ plates
One of the undeniable results of urban agriculture is access to food crops within one’s home. It ensures that people can have various fresh produce within reach and a wide array of nutrients to boost their health and immunity.
Meanwhile, several studies proved that spending a few hours with nature can boost mental health. Recorded results show how food production can elevate mood, concentration, and focus by reducing stress and anxiety.
Yet there’s more to that than meets the eye.
For instance, aspiring entrepreneurs can tap into their gardens and use excess produce to start a business. It helps promote local businesses and Filipino agricultural products while providing extra income for all those involved.
Urban agriculture also has positive effects on the environment. More greenery in the metro helps reduce the carbon footprint, while boosting a location’s natural ecology. When done using organic methods, it also lessens the amount of chemicals in the environment while keeping pests at bay.
Since urban agriculture has different approaches, some implement a community garden to engage everyone in growing food in the metro. It fosters fortified bonds among members and teaches participants necessary values and skills they could use in various aspects of their lives.
Urban agriculture methods
Before people can engage in urban agriculture, they must consider various factors to ensure its success. However, space is not a primary issue because a limited area can house enough materials to grow food.
Container gardening is the most popular method most metro residents use in urban food production. It takes used materials, like plastic bottles, tin cans, and more, and turns them into planters, either hanging or firm on the ground, for different crops. It’s among the most manageable approaches to urban agriculture, which also lessens an individual’s environmental impact through recycling.
However, in container gardening, people must consider the location of their urban garden. Since the method relies on a soil-based medium to grow plants, the area must receive sunlight for at least six hours to ensure proper growth. After choosing the garden’s location, selecting the crops is the next step. It’s advisable to pick crops that are locally adapted, high-yielding, and pest and disease resistant.
Another method fit for smaller spaces is vertical gardening. It uses walls or roofs that gardeners can decorate according to their preferences as they can place their planters along the surface to maximize it. It is an alternative method for gardening by expanding the scope of growing plants in a vertical space.
In the meantime, those with more space who want to engage in urban agriculture for beginners can maximize their area as much as possible. Besides food crops, they can grow trees or raise livestock through free-range poultry farming and aquaponics. It may take some time and practice to master, but fortunately, the DA offers free training, online and on-site, to encourage more people to participate.
Urban gardening also has more complex setups for those who prefer a little challenge, but reap better rewards. Hydroponics doesn’t require soil but uses a nutrient-rich solution to provide crops with their nutrient requirements to flourish. There are different hydroponic systems that urban gardeners can learn more about. Urban farmers can grow crops year-round because it eliminates crops’ demands for constant watering, sunlight, fertilizer, and the ideal soil medium to grow in. It also produces more crops than a standard setup using a soil-based medium.
Encouraging people to grow food
Since urban gardening has reaped immense benefits for Filipinos, DA encourages it to become a constant practice throughout urbanized areas by strengthening efforts that motivate communities to partake in it.
During the pandemic and global crises in 2020 and 2022, the DA rolled out the “Plant. Plant. Plant. Program” to address challenges faced by local food systems.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who also heads the DA currently, sees urban farming as a solution to address high food prices and shortages since Filipinos can access fresh, healthy food from their spaces for free. He also believes that urban agriculture can improve the country’s capacity “to address poverty, ensure food security, and protect the environment even at the barangay level.”
Besides its incentives and free seminars, through the DA’s various arms and extended agencies, the DA also fosters partnerships with private groups to create more spaces where people can farm or draw inspiration, like with the SM Foundation.
The SM Foundation introduced the Urban Edible Garden Training in 2015 as part of its Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Farmers’ Training program to enhance food security and provide alternative livelihood opportunities in urban areas.
Some of their initiatives include successfully establishing urban rooftop gardens in SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Sta. Mesa, and SM City East Ortigas. In the years to come, SM aims to further enrich the program by establishing more gardens and increasing its visibility among mallgoers throughout urban areas in the Philippines.
As the DA celebrates its 125th founding anniversary, it continues to champion efforts that improve food quality in the Philippines and empower farmers who are the backbone of any civilization.