MASANTOL -- A new and innovative trend in agriculture that is ideal and suitable for flood-prone communities was introduced to local farmers and will soon debut in coastal villages of this town.
The floating garden, an agricultural alternative famously utilized in countries like Bangladesh, are rafts of aquatic weeds placed over water on which vegetables and other edible produce can be grown.
The technique was introduced to locals by non-government organizations (NGOs) namely Center for Emergency Aid and Rehabilitation, Inc. (CONCERN), CARE Philippines, Tungo sa Kahandaan ng Pilipinas (TUKLAS), in partnership with the local government of Masantol, Pampanga Coastal Emergency Response-Task Force, and Tarik Suliman High School.
According to Mayor Danilo Guintu, Masantol villages will become one of the first four communities in the Philippines that will utilize such innovative agricultural technique.
He noted that the partner-NGOs already held seminars on how to assemble floating gardens for residents of Barangays Alauli, Bagang, Balibago, Nigui, Sagrada and Sapang Kawayan which are all situated in the left bank portion of the Pampanga River and will also become the beneficiaries of the project.
He explained a five by five raft made from bamboo and recycled plastic drums will serve as the base of the garden. The base will then be covered by soil for bedding, while water hyacinth will be used as water solution.
Various vegetables and fruits like cabbage, tomatoes and the like can then be planted on the floating garden and harvested by residents when ready.
"This can be very beneficial for our coastal villages which are usually stricken by flood as floating gardens are adaptive to any season and level of water. If there is a flood, it will just go along the water level unlike regular flat land-based gardens which become inefficient when flooded," he explained.
Guintu said that the Tuklas group initially allocated P1 million for the 12 floating gardens that will be placed on streams in the six identified villages, and will be facilitated by groups composed of solo parents, active senior citizens, farmers and agriculture enthusiasts.
"Food is a basic necessity of a person and when calamity strikes, it is also one of the biggest problems of victims but with the floating gardens, families need not to worry anymore because there are healthy crops that can be harvested and shared with the community," he said.
Guintu disclosed that the local government is also bound to replicate such agricultural trend in its other coastal communities as part of its disaster preparedness projects.
