Diversifying
PHOTO STORY
farms PHOTO ESSAY BY JAYSON C. BERTO
Farm diversification has been a buzzword in promoting higher income and enhanced household food security for farmers, and sustainable and healthy food supplies for consumers. It has been more than a year since communities were on quarantine due to the infectious corona virus, yet Lupao Vegetable Growers Association (LVGA) farmers are non-stop in their farming activities.
Jaime, 57, with his ready-to-plant Thai sili seedlings, is one of the recipients of shed, plastic mulch, seedlings, among other farm materials provided by the PAGAHON project. LVGA farmers plant based on consumers’ demand. For instance, NutriAsia, which is a new market link for them, requested supplies of Thai sili and sweet pepper. Through the continuous support from the LGU and DA-PhilRice, more farmers were encouraged to diversify their farms. Henry Dela Vega Ramos, LVGA President, said that about 70 farmer-members were active in 2020 and around 40 new members have joined the association this year.
30
PHILRICE MAGAZINE | JUL-SEP 2021
The PAG-AHON or “Sa Palay at Gulay – May Ani, Hanapbuhay, Oportunidad, at Nutrisyon” project of DA-PhilRice, local government unit (LGU), and the East-West Seed company, under the DA’s Plant Plant Plant Program, has educated more than 100 farmers and home gardeners on rice-vegetable production. This is Lupao, Nueva Ecija today: the rising “pakbet” town in the province.
