LANAO DEL SUR — As food prices continue to rise, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) in Lanao del Sur, is urging communities to adopt backyard gardening as a practical, long-term solution to household food insecurity.
MAFAR, together with the local government of Amai Manabilang, launched on March 25, the Food Always in the Home (FAITH) Gardening Program, an initiative that encourages families to grow their own vegetables and staple crops to ease daily expenses and lessen dependence on fluctuating market supply.
“The program is designed not just as a short-term intervention, but as a sustainable approach to help Bangsamoro communities stay food-secure amid inflation,” said MAFAR-Lanao del Sur.
Before the rollout, MAFAR consulted with farmers’ leaders and local stakeholders to finalize the program’s implementation, including crop selection, identification of planting areas, and provision of technical support from both the ministry and partner local governments.
Two days later, the program reached grassroots communities. On March 27, MAFAR-Lanao del Sur, in partnership with the municipal government of Binidayan through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, conducted a training for rural women on vegetable production at the MAFAR office in Lampsan Heights. The training was part of this year’s Women’s Month celebrations.
The participants were also given vegetable seeds, allowing them to immediately apply what they learned and start their own home gardens.
Known for its fertile lands and favorable growing conditions, Lanao del Sur remains largely agricultural, with many communities relying on farming as a primary source of food and livelihood. This makes the province well-suited for initiatives like household gardening, where even small plots can be maximized for food production.
The FAITH program, ultimately seeks to build self-reliant communities where access to food begins at home. (Norjana Malawi/BIO with reports from MAFAR)
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