This essay is a discussion on the Integrated Urban
Organic Farming Project initially implemented
PLAN International in selected barangays in the National Capital Region. Said communal
farms are managed by the PLAN’s Community Support Groups in the said areas, and
will serve as a resource hub for individual families in the said barangays,
with the end in mind of providing livelihood and savings opportunities for the
beneficiaries.
For the said project,
PLAN, through Muslim Aid Philippines, were able to established three (3)
integrated urban organic farms in the above barangays,having components like mushroom production facility,
aquaponics facility and an integrated organic farming in its designated farm
site.
This report particularly showcases the
trainings/workshops and technical assistance provided by Muslim Aid Philippines
to CSG members and other members of the communities during and after the
implementation of the above-mentioned project. The report also includes the
findings made by MAPh’ Community Farm Technicians during their monitoring, especially
in the area of farm lot assessment and preparation and the actual installation
of farm equipment and implements.
It is worthwhile to
note that prior to the execution of the Project, all of the identified
barangays practice some components of the project.
In Bagong Silangan, Quezon
City for example, majority of the CSG members has their own garden intended for
household consumption. In Valenzuela, the barangay local government unit of
Ugong has a dedicated Materials Recovery Facility where a garden of vegetables
and ornamental plants is installed. Meanwhile, in Potrero, Malabon, the local
government unit has implemented a greening program where portions of idle lands
are planted with vegetables and medicinal plants. These practices facilitated
CSG’s appreciation on the project, eventually leading to their full support and
enthusiasm. Muslim Aid Philippines sees the communities’ prior knowledge on
gardening and animal-raising as an opportunity for shared learning between MAPh
and the CSG members.
The Integrated Urban Organic Farming Project is
a composite capacity-building project of various components for urban farming.
Specifically, these components include Skills-based urban farming, which
includes the production of organic fertilizers and pesticides; Mushroom culture
trainings; Animal Husbandry and Aquaponics.
During the period of
project implementation, the intended participants cum beneficiaries underwent
trainings on topics about the above components. Said trainings are composed of
both theoretical and practicum courses, to offer optimum learning, both at
actual farm sites and at their own prospect community farms.
Gauging from these objectives, the
project is set to capacitate memebrs of the community support group under
PLAN’s MOVE-UP project, which in the long run would provide wider opportunities
for accessing agricultural development opportunities. Part of the said urban
farming project is the installation and setting up of Urban Demo Farm. The said
Urban Demo Farm will consist of Communal and Household integrated farming
systems, which is intended to become sources of livelihood and food
augmentation identified poorest households.
Conclusion
On
paper, the Integrated Urban Organic Farming project is generally a
capacity-building project for identified Community Savings Group (CSG) leaders
and members, under the Moving-Up Project Consortium of various INGOs, which
includes PLAN International.
As
a capacity-building project, beneficiary-partners on the ground where focused on
actual trainings, demonstrations, fieldwork and lectures on Skills Based Urban Farming, Gardening
(Vertical, Horizontal, wall, container, open space), Fertilizer Production and
Application, Pesticides Production and Application, Mushroom Culture,
Aquaponics and Animal Husbandry. On top of these trainings were actual
coaching and field-based mentoring by Muslim Aid’s Philippines’ Community Farm
Technicians. Also integrated in the said project is the provision of Agri-Infrastructure Construction (Animal
Cage, Vertical Garden Stall Collapsible, Solar Panel, Floating Garden) to
the designated farm lots in Quezon City, Valenzuela City and Malabon.
The
Project is a viable jumping board for future endeavors, especially in the area
of actual food security and hunger mitigation. While the said project focused
mainly on capacity building, it may be considered as a favorable gateway for
expanded urban farming in all of the urban centers in Metro Manila. A
considerable preparation has been made for the benefit of the MOVE-UP sites,
which basically needs mentoring and actual logistical support, come the ending
of the MOVE-UP project and the Integrated Urban Organic Farming project.
Meanwhile,
the MOVE-UP project, which is basically pre-existent of the Integrated Urban
Organic Farming Project, already has coordination mechanisms and implementation
structures starting from the Consortium, leading to the projects program
manager, down to the Results Officers of each barangay or city, down to the
Community Savings Groups (CSGs). On the other hand, Muslim Aid Philippines has
a Country Director who oversees the project and is supported by its Community
Farm Technicians.
These
institution-based coordination mechanisms between PLAN and Muslim Aid
Philippines could have been maximized to further strengthen the execution of
the project. Certainly, the schedule, safety and local concerns of the CSGs are
of primordial concern and that tasks and responsibilities for the project may
be treated secondary. However, due to the
limited time-frame for project execution, the CSGs and both PLAN and MAPh’s
field personnel have innovated coordination mechanisms to compensate the
delayed project components.
General
Recommendations
Baselining/Endlining and Data
gathering and Monitoring Systems
For
the actual planting and project replication, it is strongly suggested that
implementers take into consideration actual baselining of various project
variables like number of expected beneficiaries and partners, actual dimension
of proposed sites, a list of vegetable or farm animals to be deployed to farm
sites.
Likewise,
there should be an interim and post project montoring system. This will enable
implemenetors some valid and precise data on the status of the inputs provided
by PLAN-MAPh. Similarly, implementors may implement a system and technology
that would enable them to monitor and assess the status of these project
variables in realtime. MAPh proposes to adapt an android based system for the monitoring
and actual generation of data in real-time.
2.
Coordination mechanism
While
the institution-based coordination mechanism (separate for PLAN and MAPh) did
fairly for the smooth implementation of the project, it is proposed that a
centralized coordination mechanism be established. This could be done by
pooling in representatives from both institutions which will act as a central
coordinating body for ground workers, be it from PLAN or MAPh. ALL information
pertaining to project implementation will be received and delivered by the said
body, to maintain the veracity of information. This can be a venue for clearing
the flow of information within the project.
Seed banking
Seed banking process
is actually after the actual farming/gardening phase. For the interest of
replication and propagation, it is highly encouraged that each farm site should
have a seed bank where seeds of different plants are stored and processed, so
that it could be given to other households who would like to practice family-based
farming.
It is worthwhile to note that despite the limited spaces and oppurtunities to urban settlers, there are still initiatives being udnertaken by both locl and international players when it comes to food security and cliamte change adaptation. Policies and laws in the Philippine context should only be enforced to sustain these intiatives, and the communities of can, despite of the lurking social ills, may in their own capacities initiate food production. Sa ganitong paraan, mababawasan na ang kagutuman ng mga maralitang taga-lungsod.
