The city government has launched the Baguio Urban Gardening with the 4H Club (BUG-4H)-Young Farmers’ Field School Program on March 22 at Quezon Elementary School and Joaquin Smith National High School to inform young people on the importance of urban agriculture through the integration of agricultural education in schools.
The activity is pursuant to Ordinance 41, s. 2021 which mandates the conduct of the program.
City Veterinary and Agriculture Office senior agriculturist Marcelina Tabelin said the program hopes to encourage the youth to engage in agriculture to cope up with the ageing population of farmers in the country, thus ensuring food sufficiency.
She said CVAO and the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI)-CAR will conduct the month-long urban gardening coaching/seminar and hands-on gardening at this year’s two pilot public schools, after which participants with be provided with gardening starter kits composed of vegetable seeds, seed tray, seeding bags, garden trowel, and cocopeat compost.
“Throughout the hands-on gardening journey, participants will establish the 4H community urban agriculture model farm which shall serve as their ‘laboratory’ and venue for fellowship to develop their interpersonal relationship as young farmers’ organization that promotes mental health,” Tabelin said. – Gaby B. Keith
April 27, 2024
