CEBU CITY, Cebu, June 8 (PIA) -- Families are urged to plant vegetables in their own backyard amid worries of a possible food shortage due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that can affect global food production and supply.

Melquiades Ibarra, chief of the Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (AFIS) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 7, said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has affected the global food supply chain as Ukraine is a top producer of wheat, and could take a toll on the country’s domestic food supply.

Wheat is a worldwide staple food and is used to make bread, pasta, pastries and flour. But it is also used for animal feeds.

“Let us be resilient in adversities. The time to plant vegetables for our own consumption is now given the likely impact of the ongoing Russian-Ukraine crisis,” said Ibarra during the recent 48th Nutrition Month Virtual Sales Conference organized by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Region 7.

Ibarra said they have long been pushing for home gardening where families should plant vegetables like okra, eggplant, bitter gourd, squash, string beans, bell pepper and tomatoes, among others.

Excuses like no available space or lot and not being a “green thumb” are unacceptable, said Ibarra, because “one can simply use plastic bottles of soft drinks, cans, basins or any container that could hold soil to plant veggies. And as long as the plant is watered daily and exposed to sunlight, the plant will grow so having a “green thumb” is not a reason at all.”

The DA-AFIS 7 chief said their existing “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” launched at the height of the pandemic in 2020 to increase food adequacy level and seeks to increase productivity outputs of the agri-fishery sector through the use of quality seeds, appropriate inputs, and modern technologies and ensure available, accessible, and affordable food supply.

On March 7, the DA launched the “Plant, Plant, Plant Part 2” as part of proactive measures to mitigate and cushion the effects of a global food shortage aggravated by the Russian-Ukraine war, while boosting local food production.

Ibarra said families can help by shifting to growing their own vegetables, and secure food for their households instead of buying them.

Local government units (LGUs) are also requested to ensure food security in their localities by creating programs that encourage planting vegetables such as the “SUGBUsog” Urban Gardening Program of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.

The “SUGBUsog” program promotes household and community gardens for food security and is Cebu province’s contribution to the national agenda of sufficient and sustainable food supply for all Filipinos.

With a fresh mandate or change in leadership next month, local chief executives are urged to give equal importance to agriculture and create its own Local Food Promotion Program and Local Food Security Plan to ensure food security and sustainability.

As concerns over possible food shortage heighten, Filipinos can also opt to consume root crops, which are grown abundantly here and eat rice just once a day instead of three times, said Ibarra.

With the further opening of the economy and resumption of events and face-to-face gatherings, Ibarra likewise called on Filipinos not to waste rice and only eat what one can consume.

“We waste rice at an average of three tablespoons per meal,” said Ibarra.

LGUs are also urged to pass an ordinance banning “unlimited rice” in restaurants because this promotes rice wastage.

NNC7 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita Mission, meanwhile, said the COVID-19 pandemic has increased hunger incidence and food insecurity, which impacts on overall nutrition.

“One measure that could address this is food grown at home and in the communities,” said Mission, who asked for the LGUs' support to make proper nutrition a part of their development agenda.

Under the new normal, Mission said there is a need to raise awareness on the importance of nutrition in building resilience.

The virtual sales conference was a pre-activity in celebration of the upcoming 48th National Nutrition Month in July with the theme “New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-sama gawan ng Solusyon.” (FCR/PIA7)