Low-cost, modular "food sheds" are now being tapped in the countryside to help address issues of hunger and unemployment, which worsened the past year because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
A brainchild of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, food sheds are being constructed in rural communities across the country through the group's partnership with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).
“We’re very excited for this recent development. Our partner communities have come a very long way since we first started off with the project, but there is always room to do more. These food sheds that the BPI Foundation is helping us to put up will help guide our communities to further, more sustainable prosperity,” WWF-Philippines Project Manager Muneer Hinay said in a statement Wednesday, March 24.
The group noted that food and livelihood security continue to be major worries for millions of Filipinos. Some 5.2 million Filipinos experienced hunger in 2020, while four million Filipinos were unemployed as of January 2021, it said.
The project, dubbed "PagSibol", is the latest development in WWF-Philippines’ multi-year effort to advance food and livelihood security in distant communities across the archipelago. Known as the Sustainable Farm to Table Program, the project has helped communities to organize and govern themselves and their savings, while supporting them in the development of agribusiness enterprises.
Each food shed allows for the growing of a variety of crops in a multi-level structure that requires less land than an open-air farm. It's akin to the now familiar "plantito-plantita" set ups in urban areas--just more serious.
"Sheltered from the elements under a roof and maintained through simple hydroponics, each food shed allows for the growing of crops year-round, with space for the cultivation of small animals, such as poultry," WWF-Philippines said.
Through consistent production by a food shed, each of the PagSibol projects’ partner communities is expected to be able to provide for their needs, as well as sell any surplus produce for additional income.
The partner communities include Barangay Bantog in Tarlac City; Barangay Dolores in Ormoc City; Barangays Balugo and Sibulan in Negros Oriental; Barangay Ara-al in La Carlota City; Barangay Mailum in Bago City; Anajawan Island in General Luna, Surigao del Norte; Barangay Basagad in Baloi and Barangay Binuni in Bacolod, both in Lanao del Norte; Barangay Tigbalabag in Zamboanga City; Barangay Kidalapong in Malita, Davao Occidental; and Barangay Dailag in Arakan, North Cotabato.
“This is a wonderful step forward for all of us, and we are very thankful to have BPI Foundation on board supporting this effort. It is our hope that one day, all communities can enjoy the benefits of a thriving food shed," added Hinay.