Metro Manila locals encouraged to grow our own food
COVID-19 has been a challenge to various sectors in the Philippine economy – and one of the strongest-hit sectors is the agriculture industry.Â
Our farmers have had to throw away vegetables they failed to sell, or in some cases, are unable to transport their fresh produce from the provinces to markets in Metro Manila due to movement limitations due to the enhanced community quarantine. This has caused them income losses, and the possibility of a vegetable shortage in our markets in future.
Fortunately, while providing assistance to farmers, our Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), has also come up with a way to encourage us to start growing our own veggies from home.Â
Free vegetable seeds and seedlings
To encourage us to plant food while we stay at home and to induce demand for vegetables in the long run, BPI is giving away free vegetable seeds and seedlings, such as kangkong, okra, pechay, and mustard, from their Malate and Quezon City offices. Each person will get five different seeds or seedlings.
These seeds and seedlings were purchased from farmers, helping them to earn some money and helping our country to reduce food waste.
A Facebook post from the DoA, with contact information for those interested in free seeds and seedlings
Image credit: Bureau of Plant Industry
The Malate office is at 692 San Andres St., near LRT Quirino, while the Quezon City office is at Visayas Ave., Diliman, near QC Circle. Both offices are open from Monday – Friday, 8AM – 5PM.Â
Those in the provinces can pick up their free seeds at DA’s regional offices and the offices of local government units. Arrange for a pick-up via DA-BPI’s hotline numbers, 8525-7313 or 8524-0837.
How to plant seeds
Planting is inexpensive – you only need soil, a container such as a recyclable plastic bottle, seeds, popsicle sticks, a shovel, and a spray bottle to water the seeds.
Image credit: Bureau of Plant Industry
It’s also easy to get the hang of it – you just need to practice getting your hands dirty. Plus, it’s an activity that will keep the kids occupied and teach them about biology at home.
Cultivate a love for gardening while at home
In these uncertain times, perhaps one of the most productive – and calming – things we can do while at home is starting a gardening hobby.Â
It’s an activity that benefits everyone all at the same time too – while we forge a bond with nature and with our family members while planting, we’ll also be enriching our diets with more greens. In the long run, gardening can also encourage us to support more agricultural products sold by our local farmers.Â
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Cover image adapted from: Viktor Smith, Bureau of Plant Industry