TACLOBAN CITY -- Food gardening has been the focus of this year’s Nutrition Month theme: “Ugaliin magtanim, Sapat na nutrisyon aanihin!” to improve nutrition by increasing the Filipino masses’ access to food through gardening; to encourage development of food gardens among families and communities, schools, government offices, and workplaces; and likewise to mobilize various stakeholders to provide a fostering environment for sustainable food gardens.
Dr. Catalino P. Dotollo Jr., Regional Nutrition Program coordinator (RNPC) of National Nutrition Council Region VIII (NNC-8) pointed this out during the launching of the 44th Nutrition Month on July 3 and reiterated this again during its culmination program held at the SMED Center, on July 26, 2018, here.
It was learned that Food Gardening, which actually could be successfully undertaken anywhere, is the surest and most immediate way of reducing hunger and malnutrition—especially for the 67% Filipino households that can’t meet their food requirements, and eventually lower-down on the country’s prevalence of 33% under-five children stunted, 25% pregnant women nutritionally at risk, 39% infants and 25% of pregnant women anemic, and 34% iodine deficient lactating women.
Accordingly food gardening is applicable for everybody and every family for Better Nutrition: Because it is a reliable source of additional food, with available food growing in gardens no one needs to be hungry anymore; Further garden-food reduces micronutrient deficiencies or silent malnutrition—which are deficiencies in vitamin A, iron (anemia), and iodine; With easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables, it also further improves the quality of complementary food for babies starting 6 months; And families and everybody could eat much better because of the variety of available food just for the picking at the garden.
On the economic side, experts opined that “Family Savings” would be realized if not increased from not buying food, instead earn additional income from selling extra produce, as once engaged in gardening value-adding produce is just a matter of time and ingenuity, and the return on investment: 1 is to 8, experts say it’s like printing your own money!
Furthermore, eco-friendly gardening methods is “Good for the Environment” as it promotes bio-diversity, cleaner air is promoted because of the reduced carbon emission by the fact that food is no longer transported—plus the fact that plants absorb carbon-dioxide (CO2), which also improves water and waste management.
In the final analysis the health benefits derived by the person actively engaged in gardening among which are: improved mood, reduced depression, anxiety and stress, reduced body mass index, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced dementia in older people, increased life satisfaction and quality of life. It’s like engaging in a very productive regular Sumba exercise, RNPC Dotollo. said!
