BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Many of Summer Capital’s urban farmers are keen to adopt hydroponics for growing their crops, a farming method that does not use soil but mineral nutrient solutions in a water-based system.
City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) chief agriculturist Marcelina Tabelin, in a media forum, said her office is currently receiving numerous requests from local schools and barangays for technical assistance through trainings and hands-on demonstrations on hydroponics.
Recently, the CVAO-Urban Agriculture Division conducted a one-day lecture and hands-on training at Guisad Central barangay at the request of a group of senior citizens, which included a capacity-building activity and provision of free starter kits for household-level utilization.
Tabelin said an advantage of hydroponic farming, as a soil-less technology, is that it can be done in a limited space, especially in a highly urbanized setting like in Baguio.
Crops can be grown on rooftops, balconies, and other similar areas without the need for greenhouses, she added.
It was only last year that requests for hydroponics training increased, bolstered by the establishment of a technology training facility at Irisan and the establishment of Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (HAPAG) projects in several barangays, which encourage the establishment and operation of community gardens, Tabelin said.
To be sustainable, she advises those engaged in hydroponic farming to grow crops not only for their own consumption but also as an economic enterprise if possible.
Some barangays and schools donate the fresh vegetables and fruits grown through hydroponics to those in need in their respective communities and are even used in supplemental feeding programs, Tabelin said.
She revealed that hundreds of residents have already availed of the free hydroponic training. Those interested can visit their office at the Slaughterhouse Compound with the landline number (074) 443-5332 and email address: cityvet_baguio@yahoo.com. –(Gaby B. Keith-Baguio PIO)
