An effective program for agriculture plays an integral role in the overall health and nutrition of every family. With the theme “Batang Pinoy… Sana Tall, Iwas Stunting… Sama All, Iwas All din sa COVID-19,” this year’s Nutrition Month celebration recognized the municipalities of Araceli and Dumaran for their strong commitment to develop agriculture-related programs that are anchored in promoting good nutrition.
Among others, agriculture offers wide opportunities for improving the rate of nutrition in the country. Without agriculture, there is no food that will serve as inputs for ensuring good nutrition to the communities.
“Every household must establish their own backyard gardening or food production strategy especially in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. Not only does it give us the convenience in harvesting crops within our reach, but it also provides adequate nutrition to boost our immune system,” Rachel Paladan, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer (PNAO) explained.
Meanwhile, in a short program conducted by the Provincial Government of Palawan in celebration of Nutrition Month, the Best Community Garden was awarded to Bolocot Vegetable Growers’ Association in Bgy. Lumacad, Araceli and Bgy. Sta. Maria Farmers’ Association in Dumaran. The said activity was led by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and Provincial Nutrition Office (PNO), in cooperation with the local government of each municipality.
Due to the existing community quarantine brought by the pandemic, no formal launching was held during the program. The thriving backyard gardening of the two associations are focused on serving pregnant women and mothers across different barangays.
“One reason for promoting good nutrition is to underscore the first 1,000 days of life of the newborn baby which is deemed crucial to their physical and mental development,” Paladan said. She added that “the essential nutrients needed by the mothers and their baby can be found in the community garden so, it is important for all mothers to start eating foods with high nutritional value.”PNAO Paladan explained.
According to Dr. Romeo Cabungcal, Acting Provincial Agriculturist, the global pandemic has leveraged the role and contribution of agriculture in sustaining the food requirements of every household and most important, ensuring that the agricultural outputs provide adequate nutrition.
"Ngayong nararanasang nating pandemya, malaki ang kontribusyon ng sektor ng agrikultura sa ating lahat, tinutugunan ng ating mga magsasaka ang pangangailangan sa ating pagkain at tumutugon din sa angkop na nutrisyon na kailangan nating makuha [hindi lang 'yong mga gamot tulad ng vitamins] kundi dito sa mga natural na pagkain ng gulay at prutas at iba pang pagkain na kung saan ay makikita na natin sa ating mga bakuran."
He further encouraged every individual to embark on backyard gardening to improve one’s health and to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease. (Cyrus Kim D. Claridad / PGO - Palawan, Public Relations)
