DA teams up with Aboitiz Foundation

The Department of Agriculture and the Aboitiz Group’s Aboitiz Foundation have teamed up to set up urban backyard farms nationwide.

The program, called “Pagkain Para sa Masa,” aims to set up small backyard farms in urban areas and provide livelihood for communities.

This is expected to teach families basic agriculture, as part of President Duterte’s directive to improve the country’s capacity to produce its own food.

In a statement, the company said the project also involved the conduct of seminars on gardening, soil analysis, compost-making, and fish and mushroom culture.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol earlier said the project would focus on helping impoverished communities first before expanding to more developed areas.

“The DA is exerting efforts to lessen hunger in the urban community. Through this project, we are able to help residents have food for their consumption,” DA Undersecretary for special concerns Ranibai Dilangalen said.

Four urban agriculture gardens have already been set up in Quezon City, Davao City and Contabato.

Aboitiz Foundation first vice president and COO Maribeth Marasigan said the company’s corporate social responsibility program was aligned with the agency’s program of creating greener communities through urban agriculture.