At the height of growing concerns in ensuring food security and healthy communities in the period of ECQs, the Regional Nutrition Cluster (RNC) came up with the most gainful and worthwhile “Vegetable Gardening Challenge” project which enjoins households to produce their own food at home through vegetable gardening. In the challenge, families can showcase their gardens through Facebook, the most widely used social media platform, at the same time win prizes and add food on their table.
The (RNC) of Calabarzon has been continuously strategizing ways to provide nutrition programs and assist local government units (LGUs) in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After several virtual RNC meetings, discussions and brainstorming on various activities, the RNC realized the need for LGUs to strengthen their efforts to engage communities in having their own sources of fresh and abundant food in these times of crisis -- particularly in families with vulnerable groups (including 0-59 months children, pregnant and lactating women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and the elderly).
The NNC Calabarzon, in its official Facebook page, posted the full mechanics of the gardening challenge in Tagalog version for easier understanding of FB users. DOH, DA and DENR originally developed the procedure for the challenge and later revised accordingly by DTI and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), a new NGO member of the cluster.
The challenge is open to all residents of Calabarzon who have new or existing vegetable gardens (in any type) at home. The challenge runs from May 1-15 and goes with the official hashtag #RNCQuaranTANIMsaCalabarzon. Participants just need to post a picture or video of their vegetable garden in their Facebook timeline and tell a brief story about it in the caption, including a short explanation on how the gardening helped the family cope with food crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Winners will be determined through the combined number of “like, heart and wow reacts” on the post and will be announced on May 15. They will win load or cash prizes worth Php 1,500.00 (1st prize), Php 1,000.00 (2nd prize) and Php 500.00 (3rd prize). Consolation prizes will also be given to non-winners with exceptional stories based on the RNC’s choice.
Members of the cluster pledged to provide cash for the prizes, the total amounting to Php 6,500.00. The DA also committed to give seed packs and gardening materials as additional prizes to winners.
The challenge was also launched in support to the Plant, Plant, Plant initiative of the DA and to ensure food security in households. It aims to encourage families to practice vegetable gardening at home as an immediate source of daily fresh food for the family during this period of ECQ and share their experiences on Facebook.
As a follow-through activity, the RNC will launch the succeeding challenge on recipe cooking. It will likewise promote consumption of the produce from the households’ vegetable garden. Participants will need to upload their video on preparing a dish with a vegetable harvested from their garden as an ingredient. The challenge will use the hashtag #RNC4ACookVid19Challenge and will run from May 16-31, 2020. For more information, please visit the official Facebook page of National Nutrition Council – Calabarzon.
By: Ezra Minette B. Lasin
