METRO MANILANS CAN GROW OWN FOOD -- STUDIES
MANILA, APRIL 21, 2008 (STAR) By Rudy A. Fernandez - Metro Manila residents need not depend totally on the country’s vegetable bowls for their food even if there is not much land for gardening, according to studies made by agriculture experts.
Depending on the kind of plants to be grown, a square meter plot can supply part of a household’s need for vegetables.
For those who are resourceful enough, they can grow leafy vegetables in used plastic containers, milk cans, washbasins, old tires, and other materials that can hold soil.
For the soil, the Smokey Mountain in Tondo can be a good source of garden soil, according to urban agriculture experts at the Central Luzon State University in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Other studies confirming the viability of urban gardening have turned out encouraging results.
One was a research project on the trial implementation of an Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) system in the households of Barangay Vaera, Quezon City.
Conducted a few years back by Esmeralda Andres and Rhia Galsim of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the study was funded by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD).
The DENR researchers advised that instead of throwing away fruit and vegetable trimmings; entrails or refuse from fish, chicken, pork, beef; and food leftovers, the public should put these kitchen wastes in pots or containers, then cover them with soil. When these have been decomposed, they can be used to grow plants.
“These very simple steps can spare people the grossly unhealthy rotting garbage in dumpsites, especially for these making a living from the recyclable non-biodegradable wastes,” they stated, as reported by Maria Teresa Agarrado, formerly with PCARRD and now with the DENR Environment Management Bureau.
The study showed that compost derived from kitchen wastes contain nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and a high amount of organic matter to produce healthy vegetables for home consumption and for growing ornamentals and other garden plants as well.
The cost-benefit analysis showed that composting kitchen wastes and the use of compost for growing vegetables or ornamental plants could provide additional income to households.
Indirectly, the ESWM could reduce the incidence of diseases such as typhoid, cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis, and others.
The project has taught residents in the study area to appreciate and practice waste segregation and composting.
The University of the Philippines Los Baños had earlier introduced the “Magic Square Meter” technology. According to its proponents, one can plant malunggay in the middle of the one square meter plot and other vegetables such as camote, pechay, and eggplant around it.
For those who have not yet tried simple backyard gardening, they can ask the help of government agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI), about getting vegetable seeds and how to grow them.
Metro Manila is almost totally dependent on vegetable crops from the provinces, some from as far as Mindanao.
Just to have dishes of “pinakbet,” Metro Manilans have a monthly requirement of 61,640 kilos each of ampalaya (bitter gourd), squash, string beans, eggplant, and okra, based on figures released by the government in 2006.
For “chopsuey,” Metro Manila resident require 57,010 kilos of cabbage; sayote, 53,928; Baguio beans, sweet pepper, carrots, and cauliflower, 38,520 each; sugar peas, 8,490; and broccoli, 6,163.
For “sinigang,” Metro Manilans need 92,448 kilos of taro; 92,448 kilos of radish; 77,040 kilos of string beans; 30,816 kilos of kangkong and 15,408 kilos of sili (pepper).
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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