It has been a year since the announcement of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in our country. As the pandemic progressed and affected the entire world when international borders and travel overseas via air, land and sea where halted out because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
With mostly 4 million Filipinos out of work because of the shutdown or closure of their workplaces or under new normal with the Philippine Economy just starting up again. Some have resorted to the non-formal economy just to survive with honest day of living by online selling of goods and services. It seems that agriculture is one of the solution to combat poverty or joblessness at this point in time. For urban dwellers with small spaces, it seems to be impossible to do but with ingenuity it can be done.
As life went to a standstill from March 15, 2020 to June 2020, brought about by the pandemic on how it affect one's lives. Out of boredom and sudden halt from daily work, chores and other activities. People gained sudden interest in gardening and as traction on this soon to be growing urban gardening movement started among the folks from young to old people with a lot of time on their hands promoted by local government units promotion of "Plant, Plant, Plant" on one's backyard, open or small spaces.As early as 2017, there was a move by the congress in promoting and advocating urban agriculture and farming in urban areas under House Bill No. 7526 "Integrated Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming Act of 2018". However, it seems this bill did not push through and House Bill No. 00284 of 2019 and House Bill No. 3412 of 2020 was refiled again in promoting such advocacy by giving the knowledge and training gained from this endeavor can serve the poor communities in being self-sufficient in growing their homestead for their own consumption brought about by rising prices of basic goods and commodities. The local government units will spearhead the drive for this in addressing the shortages and technical education with other government agencies tasked to give Filipinos a means of survival.
With the ongoing pandemic, folks are nowadays growing their own fruits and vegetables for their personal consumption, while others have made it as a business on selling plants, seeds / seedlings, fertilizer, gardening items including soil, plastic and clay pots and many more. Some people with entrepreneurial mindset have also been growing and exotic plants for their collection for their selfies. Some have delved into hydroponics of growing their high valued vegetable crops like varieties of lettuce, cucumbers, bell peppers, herbs, etc. I myself have built our own garden in our very small backyard for our own self-sufficiency and personal consumption as I have seen it possible way because of this pandemic. Time and patience is also needed in planting and growing one's produce like a farmer does.
I have never imagined how COVID 19 will reach our shores with the thoughts of how the first outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus 1 (SARS-COV 1) which have been averted in 2003 but killed thousands of lives worldwide particularly in the province of Guangdong, People's Republic of China. I still recalled those days, just about to finish college when SARS-COV 1 or SARS reached the country but with with minimal effect and simply die out due to tropical heat and humid climate here in the Philippines.
Although, the Philippine agriculture sector posted growth of around 0.5 % in the second quarter of 2020 and 0.7% in the third quarter of 2020, not counting the recent pork meat shortage brought about by African Swine Fever (ASF) which have gravely affected our food supply for meat in recent years which is presented at -3.8% in fourth quarter, 2020. The Department of Agriculture is expecting a 2.5% growth for this year, 2021. Other than that the rice tariffication law in 2019 has also affected greatly in the rice production of our farmers which were given much clamor and support in the subsidy in the production of food which is necessary for the growing population of this country estimated at 111 million Filipinos.
Sources:
- 2020 Year-End Report, Department of Agriculture https://bit.ly/2OffK5q
- DA targets 2.5% growth in 2021 shorturl.at/npFT3
- PH agricultural output down 3.8 pct in Q4, down 1.2 pct in 2020: shorturl.at/yJQ58
- Winners and losers from the rice tariffication law: https://bit.ly/38Qsdn1
- Urban agriculture bill approved by House panel shorturl.at/cyFNO
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