Seven container garden implementers from this city were recognized by the local government through the City Agriculturist Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for promoting food resiliency during times of disaster.

City Agriculturist Iñigo Garingalao, in an interview on Tuesday, said that they try to encourage residents to engage in container gardening since the city, with its dense population, is a huge food consumer.

Participants underwent hands-on training, were supplied with farm inputs, and were subjected to a weekly visitation by agriculture technicians in case they need more assistance.

He said that 21 villages in the city have so far embarked on container gardening.

“Even without the contest, we want it to be a way of life for our city residents to utilize any vacant space or small area for planting that can augment their food,” he said in dialect.

Recognized in a ceremony held at the Ker building on Monday afternoon were the Bakhaw Integrated School for Best in Container Gardening; Army Veterans Village, Best in Production; Barangay Don Esteban, Best in Creativity and Resourcefulness; Barangay Punong, Best in Usage of Container Gardening materials; and Cubay Elementary School, Best in Community Involvement.

They were judged based on the highest harvest and solid waste management, Garingalao added.

Barangays Bonifacio in Arevalo and Lapuz Norte received special awards.

CDRRM Officer Donna Magno, in a separate interview, said they would like to promote food sufficiency and food resiliency where every household has its own source of fresh produce that they could use especially in times of calamities.

“It’s available within their reach. While they have the option to buy, yet if it’s just in their household, then whether or not they have income, they are assured of nutritious food,” she said. (PNA)