By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
German firm Bayer has established a first-of-its-kind organic urban farm in Taguig City as a showcase of a sustainable farm.
Vinit Jindal, Bayer Philippines, Inc. managing director, said at the launch in Pamayanang Diego Silang in Brgy. Ususan, Taguig that the 200 square meter urban garden called “Bayer Kubo” is already supplying some of the vegetable requirements Conrad Hotel Manila.
Jindal said the Taguig City garden, located along expressway C-5, will just be the first of urban agriculture programs that Bayer may planned to replicate in other urban areas.
In putting up the urban garden, Bayer aims to contribute in meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) for “zero hunger.”
“With the Philippines’ growing population, urban agriculture will be important in food security,” said Jindal.
Conrad Manila General Manager Laurent Boisdron said the hotel traditionally sources its supply of vegetables and herbs from the local market.
“We will now buy our vegetables from this farm. Yes we know the produce will be of high-quality with this partnership with Bayer and the community,” said Boisdron at the launch Thursday.
Vegetables and herbs now planted in the Bayer Kubo facility include eggplant, tomato, pepper, medicinal plants roselle, taheebo, gotu kola, tarragon, gotu kola, serpentine, basil, lemongrass, and Thai garden tea.
Bayer also has a memorandum of agreement for the project with the Taguig local government unit (LGU) and civic group Rise Against Hunger.
Jomar Flores, Rise Against Hunger executive director, said some urban farms are just launched and later on abandoned. But two major factors will contribute to sustainability of Bayer Kubo.