DA-7 urges public to plant vegetables

amidst decreasing in vegetable production and consumption

By Amorganda A. Saludar

Wednesday 20th of June 2012

CEBU CITY, June 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) -7 urged the public to practice organic farming and urban gardening in order to increase the production of chemical-free vegetables. It said that vegetable production in the country is decreasing.

“Vegetable production is (declining) despite government’s intervention so we advise people to go into urban gardening and organic farming,” DA-7 High-Value Development Program (DA-7, HVCDP) Coordinator, Nenita Seno said.

Seno also urged everyone to help increase the production of fruits and vegetables. “If you want to live longer, plant your own vegetables,”she added.

Based on the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics records, vegetable production in the region dropped between the years 2010 and 2011.

Vegetable production in Cebu for 2010 recorded 57,529 but decreased by 3.57 percent the following year with 55,478. In the same period, Bohol pegged its production at 37,249, which went down to 26,940 the next year or a decrease of 27.68 percent.

On the other hand, Negros Oriental’s vegetable production reached 34,487 by 2010 but took a dive the following year with only 30,769 (10.78 percent) while Siquijor’s production in 2010 was at 1,603, but decreased by 10.87 percent the following year with 1,429.

In view of this, the government is intensifying moves to increase vegetable production not just in the region but in the entire country.

One of these moves is HVCDP–RA 9700 or HVCDP Act of 1995, which is aimed at promoting the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-value crops as this is the priority program of the Department of Agriculture created to help address food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable growth with its strategy to increase income, create livelihood opportunity, and contribute to national development.

It is also the objective of the bureau to promote vegetables and increased consumption of the general public and increase the demand to support local crop farmers.

It is also aimed for families, schools, and communities to establish and maintain vegetable gardens as well as to increase the awareness of the people on the benefits vegetables can offer.

This will also address the declining consumption of vegetables and to emphasize the importance of vegetables as the main source of vitamins and minerals as well as in prevention of diseases.

This year’s Nutrition Month Celebration to be commemorated next month is also seen to boost vegetable production in the country as this bares the theme “Pagkain ng Gulay Ugaliin, Araw-araw Itong Ihain.” (rmn/AS/PIA-7, CEBU)