In support to the urban agriculture promotion of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food Science of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) turned over the “Hardin ng Kalusugan at Pagkain”, an initiative under its Edible Landscaping (EL) project: Magtanim ng Gulay Para sa Isang Masagana, Malusog, at Makulay na Buhay on December 20, 2021 at DA Central Office in Quezon City.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar together with DA officials, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony and ceremonial turnover of the shovel, symbolizing food cultivation and production through EL.

The project, funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), under the Plant, Plant, Plant program, aims to promote EL in urban communities as an additional source of available, fresh, and nutritious food.

It supports the efforts of the Department to establish food-resilient community amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, and promotes urban farming by incorporating various available technologies such as organic farming, vertical farming, hydroponics, and horticulture.

“This project was inspired by our desire to provide more food in poor urban areas. It is important that we start this at the DA. This area is planted with organic vegetables and integrates horticulture, as inspired by Usec. Evelyn (Laviña),” said Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan in his message of acceptance of EL garden.

The DA’s EL garden, which started construction in August, was designed after DA’s logo.

“The design of our marker symbolizes kung ano iyong crop production, encouraging crop production and urban agriculture. Lahat ng nakadikit po doon ay tools in plant production,” explained UPLB-EL project leader, Dr Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr.

EL is a farming approach where artistry and basic landscaping principles are aesthetically combined with crop production, to provide households steady supply of vegetables. ### (Kristel Joyce Merle, DA-AFID)