The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office will embark on two projects this year worth P7.1 million in line with the city government’s thrust of achieving food security amidst the Covid-19.
In Monday’s flag-raising rites, CVAO head Dr. Brigit Piok said her office and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regional office will embark on a P2.1M urban aquaculture (aquaponics) project.
The project’s entire funding will be provided by the BFAR as per an earlier request by Mayor Benjamin Magalong to the Department of Agriculture.
She said aquaponics is a combination of aquaculture, which is growing fish and other aquatic animals, and hydroponics or the growing of plants without soil.
Aquaponics uses the systems in a symbiotic combination where plants are fed the aquatic animals’ discharge or waste, Piok added.
“Aquaponics is perfect for Baguio since only a limited area is required or a minimum of four square meters,” she said.
Piok said that 10 aquaponic areas will be established this year costing P40,000 per area in selected places in the city while around 43 are scheduled to be set up in 2021.
Another program of the CVAO is the P5-M city government funded raised bed strawberry production project with six growing houses to be set up in chosen barangays this year at P200,000 per unit.
She said 19 more will be established next year should this year’s pilot implementation prove to be successful. – Gaby Keith
April 25, 2024
