TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite (PIA) – Three community groups from the cities of Imus, Dasmariñas, and the municipality of General Emilio Aguinaldo were provided with training on Urban Gardening Technologies by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) – Calabarzon on November 14-16.

The three-day training was held at the DA-ATI 4A Compound here with lead facilitator OIC TCS II/Center Director Rolando Maningas, Ph.D. formally commencing the event.

In his opening message, Director Maningas emphasized the importance of building community-based urban gardens to help address food security in the region and the entire country.

The training was in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s directive to intensify food security programs to increase the participants' capacity and knowledge in various urban gardening technologies that are suitable for their community.

This will also support the community groups that will be beneficiaries of the projects under Urban Agriculture.

Serving as resource speaker in the three-day training, Mrs. Cynthia Perez from the Office of the Cavite Provincial Agriculturist and other employee trainers from the agency.

The participants were taught various urban gardening techniques such as container, vertical, raised bed, square foot gardening, edible landscaping, hydroponics, and aquaponics, and were given an opportunity for the actual preparation of seeds, and natural fertilizers.

Aside from the training, additional support to these community groups will be thru the provision of agri-inputs, gardening tools, and crop seeds from the DA-ATI 4A. (RBF/PIA-Cavite with reports from ATI-Calabarzon)