Three youths from Cavite topped the RNC Calabarzon’s “Vegetable Gardening Challenge,” giving hope of encouraging more young people to get involved in tending to plants and alleviate the impact of the worsening of the nutrition status of the affected population in the country which has been brought about by pandemics, disasters and emergencies. The “Vegetable Gardening Challenge,” is also expected to eventually and continually address the threat of food security, ensure food availability and accessibility, and promote the consumption of safe and nutritious vegetables among households.
In an online interview, the winners warmly expressed their joy and gratitude to the challenge launched by the Regional Nutrition Cluster (RNC) Calabarzon because it gave them the opportunity to showcase their skills in home gardening. They also had the chance to influence the youth to be more productive and manage time wisely. They emphasized that through home gardening they were able to cope with the psychological distress brought about by the pandemic and contribute to the family’s well-being.
Jeanette Berganos VIllannueva, 16 years old from Naic, Cavite garnered first place, with 1,609 positive reacts in her FB post. She narrated that the ECQ made her weary but motivated her to clean their backyard and start planting seeds of fruits and vegetables given by the Municipal Agriculture Office.
Among the vegetables that Jeanette planted were kamote tops, kangkong, okra, ampalaya, sili, tomatoes, mustasa, malunggay and grapes. She gladly shared that some of the vegetables were already harvested and consumed by her family. She realized that having a home garden provides people with organic food and reduces the expenses of the family.
In the online interview, Jeanette also mentioned the lessons she learned in home gardening in her post, #plantNOWharvestLATER. She insists that the youth like her need not to waste their time in useless undertakings, but rather spend it in useful activities like planting. She remarked: “Bilang isang Kabataan, sa panahon ngayon na may Pandemic marami sa atin ang nakakaramdam ng pagkabagot. Nakakalungkot isipin na kung ating makikita sa Social Media o sa ating paligid na sari-sari lamang ang mga ginagawa ng mga tao o ng mga kabataang katulad ko. Inuubos lamang nila ang kanilang oras sa hindi kapaki-pakinabang na bagay.
Jeanette, in further voicing out her sentiments said, “Bilang isang kabataan,marapat lamang na suriin nating mabuti ang ating mga gagawin. Kung tayo ay mag-iisip, maraming mga bagay ang maari nating gawin. Katulad na lamang ng pagtatanim sa ating bakuran. Makalipas ang ilang araw o buwan ay mayroon ka nang aanihin. Nakatitiyak ka pang ito'y safe kainin, at magkaroon tayo ng disiplina sa ating mga sarili. Gamitin natin ang gadgets sa tamang paraan. Katulad na lamang ng pag-aaral at pagbabahagi ng salita ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng Social Media dahil sa panahon ngayon marami ng tao ang nanlalamig na sa Panginoon.
Second placer, Mayvel Bendo, 16 years of age from Alfonso, Cavite gathered 1,008 positive reacts in her FB post. She said in her post that in the first week of ECQ she was not immediately bored being locked down at home, but as days went by, she was already becoming restless. However, the situation prompted her to create a small garden in their backyard. It was timely, because earlier, she was able to attend a training on organic farming from TESDA which was sponsored by the Kaytitingan Integrated School.
Mayvel recounted that putting up a garden was quite difficult and she was doubtful if she would be able to grow them. But after a few weeks, she was very happy to see the results of her hardship and was certain that come harvest time her family would utilize and benefit from them. She also added that home gardening made her cope with her anxieties.
Mayvel has this message for the youth: “Sa lahat ng kabataan, hindi palaging mga makabagong teknolohiya ang sagot sa inyong pagkabagot sa panahon ng pandemyang ito. Maraming paraan para kayo ay malibang, gawin ninyong makabuluhan ang bawat oras na inilalagi ninyo sa inyong mga tahanan. Imbis na maghapon lang tayo tumunganga at magcellphone lang, bakit hindi tayo magtanim? Magtanim tayo ng mga gulay sa ating bakuran.
Mayvel happily shared that, “Kahit sa simpleng paraan, makakatulong tayo upang mabawasan ang gastusin ng ating mga magulang sa pamamagitan ng ating mga tanim na gulay. Ang pagtatanim ay isang laro din tulad ng nasa celphone na farm ville. Ang kaibahan nito, totoo na kayo ay nagtatanim at kayo rin ang kakain. Higit pa dun,maari rin itong pagkakitaan tulad ng turmeric at maging supplier tayo ng Delfas Food Products Inc. o mga gumagawa ng turmeric tea. Naglalaro na kayo at naglilibang , at nakakapag ehersiyo na rin kayo. Kaya mas maging produktibo kayong kabataan sa panahong ganito.
Mayvel, in reminding others also stated: “ At huwag ninyong kalilimutan, natulungan din natin ang ating inang kalikasan. Kaya bilang kabataan, wag nating sayangin ang panahong ito sa walang kabuluhan... "MAKE THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC MEANINGFUL AND MORE PRODUCTIVE".
Meanwhile, third placer, Alfhea Dumadag, 16 years old from Naic, Cavite shared that even before the pandemic her family was used to home gardening. They planted kamote tops, kangkong, string beans, eggplants, papaya, sili, calamansi and taro leaves. She is proud that her home gardening activity was beneficial not only for her family but also for her neighbors because whatever they harvest, they share it with them.
When asked what she wants to tell the youth, she said “Ang maipapayo ko lang po sa mga kabataan ay ‘wag natin hayaang huminto yung pagiging produktibo natin ngayong panahon ng pandemic. Maraming pwedeng gawin na makakatulong sa atin upang malinang ang ating mga sarili, maaari tayong mag-aral ng mga bagong bagay o di kaya naman ay linangin ang ating mga talento.
Alfhea also said: Hindi lang dapat tayo nakatuon sa gadgets buong araw, maghanap tayo ng mga gawain na may malaking maitutulong sa atin kahit sa simpleng paraan lang. Tulad ng pagtatanim sa bakuran ng mga gulay at prutas, nailalayo mo na ang sarili mo sa gadgets, may sustansya ka pang nakukuha galing sa mga ito.”
The challenge lasted for 15 days with over 50 entries received by the secretariat. Out of the 50 plus entries, 41 qualified for following the prescribed mechanics. The above three (3) highest ranking in positive reacts were declared winners and fifteen (15) entries with inspirational stories of vegetable gardening experience received consolation prizes.
In looking forward to spreading the beautiful results from the “Vegetable Gardening Challenge,” the RNC proposed for the endorsement of the stories of the three winners to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Calabarzon for compilation of success stories and for featuring in DA’s program, “Youth in Agriculture”.
By: Lourdes Bulante-Orongan
