Mandaue awards "container" gardener

CEBU, Philippines - The city government of Mandaue yesterday awarded a resident of barangay Subangdaku for planting assorted vegetables using recycled containers and self-produced organic fertilizer.

Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede awarded P20,000 to Rogelio Sulad for winning the container gardening category in the annual gardening contest organized by the city agriculture office. The event culminated the week-long celebration of nutrition month.

Bercede also awarded two other top winners, Alma Rosell of barangay Paknaan for the backyard category and barangay Paknaan for the barangay with the highest number of gardens.

Sulad was cited for planting vegetables using cans, bottles, among others and using self-produced organic fertilizer.

Sulad used household food waste to produce fertilizer, which he used to fertilize his vegetables.

“During our evaluation visit, we could not recognize his house because it was covered with vegetables,” said Sharon Mangadlawan, a city agriculturist and the focal person in the annual gardening contest.

Aside from promoting healthy lifestyle, Sulad also earned from his garden because neighbors patronized his vegetables.

On the other hand, Bercede said the administration of Mayor Jonas Cortes has introduced backyard gardening to help residents afford healthy foods at no cost.

“The scarce agriculture space in a highly urbanized city is not a hindrance to promoting food security,” Bercede said.