The Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga) formally handed over to the local government a P3-million food production facility that would help boost the food sufficiency efforts of Butuan City.
The DA-13 said the facility was turned over recently by DA-13 Executive Director Abel James Monteagudo to Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada.
The facility, situated in Barangay Pigdaulan, features a greenhouse, hydroponics, and a nursery with a fertigation system.
“Fertigation is an irrigation system in which the nutrients needed are already mixed with the water.”
“Fertigation is an irrigation system in which the nutrients needed are already mixed with the water. Another component of the project is a season-long training that started in June,” the DA said.
Lagnada thanked the department for its continued technical and project support for the agricultural development of Butuan City.
“This project will support the food production initiatives of the city, especially in this time of pandemic where the need for food sufficiency is really felt,” he said.
Lagnada also assured the agency of the project’s sustainability, noting Butuan’s vast lands that can be developed for agricultural purposes and food sustainability.
Monteagudo, meanwhile, said the sustainability of the facility would greatly benefit the residents of Butuan.
“This facility will serve as a model for farmers to see farming as a business enterprise.”
“This facility will serve as a model for farmers to see farming as a business enterprise. One of the thrusts of the agriculture department is to change the mindset of the farmers from production only towards farming as a business,” he said.
The project is funded by DA-13 under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or the Bayanihan 2, through the Urban Agriculture Program.
The Bayanihan 2 is designed to respond to the impact of the pandemic on the economy while the Urban Agriculture Program aims to establish a resilient food system through urban farming to ensure food availability and accessibility.
Caraga also has Urban Agriculture facilities in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur; and Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
