By Adam L. Saligumba
Sunday Post
The overwhelming success of last year's Summer Youth Camp-“Pag-sure sa Future,†which involved the training of young Loonanons into acquiring livelihood skills, has encouraged the local government unit of Loon to stage the second version of the skills training program this year.
Loon mayor, Dr. Lloyd Peter M. Lopez, said this time the youth camp is focusing on the LGU's food sufficiency program through skills training on organic vegetable farming and vermin-composting.
With funding amounting to P106,440 coming from the 20 percent Development Fund, the camp officially started on May 4 and is scheduled to end on May 29.
Two personnel from the ATI served as trainers for two days to the summer camp participants.
Beneficiaries of this year's summer camp are the in-school youth of Districts 1, 2 and 7 which compose the barangays of Song-on, Tontonan, Taytay, Cuasi, Tangnan, Pig-ot, Cabadug, Cabug, Basdacu, Lintuan (District 1), Moto Norte, Moto Sur, Cogon Sur, Napo, Canmanoc, Tubodio, Tiwi, Tan-awan, Agsoso, Badbad Occidental (District 2), Basdio, Calayugan Norte, Calayugan Sur, Mocpoc Norte, Mocpoc Sur, Canigaan, Sondol and Ubojan (District 7).
Seven members of farmer associations in Districts 1 and 2 are also participating in the month-long activity held at the municipal nursery in barangay Cogon Sur.
Accordingly, in its description of the project the municipal agriculture office, headed by municipal agriculture officer Trinita Suello, expounded that the growing concerns on food and health safety coupled with environmental preservation have popularized the concept of organic farming. At present, a number of farmers are still using inorganic fertilizers and pesticides to increase farm production. However, the inappropriate ways of using inorganic fertilizers and pesticides may cause adverse effects on the health of consumers and can cause damage to the condition of the soil.
On the other hand, the Integrated Solid Waste Management ordinance mandates segregation at source and disposing of only two kinds of wastes, namely: residual and special. Since biodegradable wastes are not collected, every household is encouraged to establish a compost pit or pile for their disposal. In this context, the municipal agriculture office advocates vegetable production using organic fertilizer sourced through “vermi composting†from the biodegradable wastes at home and in the farm.
The local government unit endeavors to sustain its food sufficiency program through the adoption of modern farming technology and production of organically grown vegetables.
This way, the increase production of vegetables will augment the income of farmers and supply nutritious food for their families and the community as well. Households in coastal barangays could also produce organically grown vegetables through container gardening.
The objectives of the project include: to equip the in-school youth and members of farmer organizations in Districts 1 qnd 2 with the technical skills on organic vegetable farming and vermi composting; enable the in-school youth of District 7 to develop a banana-papaya highway along the circumferential road of Sandingan Island; enhance the youth's appreciation of the importance of farming and the production of organically grown vegetables for health and nutrition; and determine the alternative source of income derived from farming and reduce its production cost through the use of organic farming.
Activities in the month-long training include orientation with discussions on overview of organic agriculture, vegetable production- -methods and techniques, nursery establishment and tools used in vegetable gardening.
The participants are also exposed to farm work dealing with land preparation, soil medium preparation, transplanting of vegetable seedlings, vegetable care and maintenance like bagging, pricking and harvesting.
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Topic: Summer Youth Camp in Loon, Bohol (Read 2766 times)