Sitio Dungan Lahek adopts chemical-free agri
The chemical-free agriculture in the form of a community garden has already been established in Sitio Dungan Lahek of Brgy. Saravia, City of Koronadal which has also obtained support from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City Enro) with the partnership of Land Care Project, a non-profit and Non-Government Organization (NGO).
Sitio leader and president of the group, Gulile Lagsumal with other beneficiaries have already started earning from their naturally grown vegetables out of their small garden. He said the project has brought great impact in their daily living not just having nutritious food but they have added income. “At the start of January this year, they have already earned 800 pesos weekly from their five (5) meters wide plot”, Lagsumal revealed.
The said chemical-free vegetables are tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, mustards, string beans, ladyfingers (okra), alugbati, bitter gourd (ampalaya), camote tops, lemongrass, chilli, and many more.
Being convinced by its beneficial effect, Vangie Masambo, a resident of the place also utilized the vacant space around her house to plant various kinds of vegetables and currently enjoying the extra income. “Lingaw na, may kwarta pa,” Masambo said after she harvested her cabbage crop three (3) times a week. Right now, they are delivering their produce at the public market and the satellite market (china town) of the city. Aside from vegetables, the group also breed chicken in an organic process.
Aside from monetary and health benefits of the program, City Enro Bretaña also believes that someday this program will generate an eco-tourism activity if given much focus and serious consideration. On the other hand, the LIFE project is focused on helping the Indigenous People (IP) community to elevate their standard of living specifically concentrated at Sitio Olo-clofe, Barangay Assumption and eventually extended to Sitio Ulom-lao and Nga Bango of Brgy. Saravia.