Quezon City green farm yields 700 kilos of vegetables

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City have started reaping the benefits of urban farming.

Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday led the first harvest festival in the city’s Greenland farm where at least 700 kilos of vegetables are expected to be harvested.

“After 41 days, we are grateful that the Greenland farm is finally having its first harvest. It is worth celebrating because it was made possible through the collective effort of the government and the farmers of Bagong Silangan,” Belmonte, who chairs the city’s food security task force, said.

“The city will be their first market as their produce will be used in our mobile and community kitchen that will feed the most vulnerable sectors,” she added.

The city government partnered with the Departments of Agrarian Reform and Agriculture for the establishment of the urban vegetable farm.

It is also implemented in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Bread Society International and the barangay.

Once the entire seven-hectare farm is fully utilized, the city government said the site is expected to produce 765 metric tons of vegetables.

From an initial 70 farmer residents, the farm now has over 100 farmers growing crops in the area.

Belmonte said the harvest festival, which features activities such as booths and competitions, would connect the farmers with possible markets for their succeeding harvests.

Hugh Velasco, task force co-chairman and head of the city’s sustainable development affairs office, committed to support the farmers by providing them with inputs and training in using agri-technology and pest management.