Urban farmers showing interest in hydroponics – CVAO

Many of the Summer Capital’s urban farmers are keen on adopting hydroponics in growing their crops which is a farming method that does not use soil but mineral nutrient solutions in a water-based system.

City Veterinary and Agriculture Office (CVAO) chief agriculturist Marcelina Tabelin, in a media forum, said her office is currently receiving numerous requests from local schools and barangays for technical assistance through trainings and hands-on demonstrations on hydroponics.

Recently, the CVAO-Urban Agriculture Division conducted a one-day lecture and hands-on training at Guisad Central barangay upon the request of a group of senior citizens that included a capacity-building activity and provision of free starter kits for household level utilization.

Tabelin said an advantage of hydroponics farming, being a soil-less technology, is that it can be done in a limited space, especially in a highly-urbanized setting like in Baguio.

Crops can be grown at rooftops, balconies and other similar areas without the need of putting-up greenhouses, she added.

It was only last year that the requests for trainings on hydroponics increased bolstered by the set-up of a technology training facility at Irisan and establishment of Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (HAPAG) projects in several barangays which encourages the establishment and operation of community gardens, Tabelin said.

To be sustainable, she advises those engaged in hydroponic farming to not only grow crops for their own consumption but also as an economic enterprise if possible.

Some barangays and schools donate the fresh vegetables and fruits grown through hydroponics to those in need in their respective communities and are even used in supplemental feeding programs, Tabelin said.

She revealed that hundreds of local residents have already availed of the free hydroponic trainings. Those interested can visit their office at the Slaughterhouse Compound with landline no. (074) 443-5332 and email address: cityvet_baguio@yahoo.com. – Gaby B. Keith