DAR brings ‘urban gardening’ to rural areas

A half-hectare land in Quirino province will soon be transformed into a sustainable vegetable garden as the government moves to bring its urban gardening project to rural areas.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said a site inspection and validation has already been conducted in Tobias Farm, Maria Clara, Diffun in Quirino, where the “Buhay sa Gulay” project will be established.

DAR-Cagayan Valley Regional Director Samuel Solomero said the land is owned by Melchor Tobias.

Under the endeavor, idle lots in Metro Manila are transformed into backyard vegetable gardens in a bid to provide a steady source of food for communities during the pandemic.

“DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones implemented this project in Metro Manila urban areas, transformed idle lands to become vegetable gardens and guided the people around the area to cultivate it so that they would have their own source of food, as well as additional income, when they sell their products. It is just right that we follow his step in this province,” Solomero said.

Quirino Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Jess Beth Quidasol said the agency, the land owner, and the residents involved in the project have already come up with plans and arrangements on how to carry out urban gardening in their locality.

“We will, initially, implement this project on a half-hectare land involving a number of people to plant various fast-growing vegetables. After the harvest, we would develop another area and add more people to cultivate it,” Quidasol explained.

The project will then be replicated in other areas, she said.