BPI promotes peri-urban gardening

The Bureau of Plant Industry has started spreading the principles of peri-urban gardening or vegetable raising in the periphery of urban centers, BPI Director Blo Umpar Adiong said.

Citing reports of Adoracion A. Virtucio, leader of the project which started at the BPI Los Baños National crop Research and Development Center in Los Baños, Laguna, Adiong said techno-demo gardens are being established in various areas in Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija so the people will know the latest technology on how to raise vegetables off-season to have a continuous supply of vegetables.

The BPI, he said, is employing the new off-season production technology for leafy vegetables and tomatoes. These technologies are raised beds, application of net structures to reduce the impact of rain as well as secure the plants from night insects, right fertilizer management, integrated pest management, proper cultural practices and use of improved varieties which BPI Los Baños had generated in the Center. They also use plastic mulch to save on cost of weeding as well as irrigation.

In a recent techno-demo and field day in Calauan, Laguna, no less then Calauan Mayor Buenafrido T. Berris urged his constituent-farmers to use the technology the BPI is promoting for the town to increase its vegetable production whole year round. He urged them to raise the leafies with concern, as organically grown vegetables are free from chemical pollutants that somehow affect man’s health. Several varieties of upland kangkong, pechay, mustard, non-heading cabbage, pachoi, choysum and Chinese kale were planted in Calauan.

The peri-urban project aims to continuously supply the urban centers with vegetables by planting in its peripheral areas. Off-season technology therefore, is a necessity of bringing vegetables to the masses. Unfavorable conditions such as high temperature, abundant rainfall and high humidity constrain farmers to grow vegetables the whole year round making for limited supply and therefore high prices. Off-season technologies will enhance productivity and reduce seasonality of vegetables.