By Lord Ian Galano

"Increasing food security and sufficiency in various communities and schools in Ilocos Norte during the peak of the pandemic through the adoption of bio-intensive gardening."

This was the primary goal of the project team from Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in their project Bio-Intensive Gardening (BIG) – Panlaban sa COVID-19 sa Ilocos which won Best Paper Award (Disaster Management Track) in the first National Extension Conference on March 21-22, organized by the Southern Leyte State University.

The paper was authored by Ms. Marissa Atis, Prof. Geovannie Stanley Malab, Dr. Aris Reynold Cajigal, Ms. Mercy Fausta Gaño, Dr. Sherlyn Nicolas, Ms. Bella Gervacio, and Ms. Abegail Marcelino. Dr. Nicolas presented the project in the conference.

With the funding support from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), through the Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC), the project benefited communities and schools in Ilocos Norte with the knowledge and skills on the establishment of organic vegetable gardens as well as the production of glutinous corn for the farmers.

The project conducted series of pre-dispersal trainings that capacitated pupil-beneficiaries and farmers on the vegetable and glutinous corn production technologies with the support of Schools Division Office of the City of Batac and Municipal Agricultural Offices of the chosen municipalities. Beneficiaries of the project include the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School (MMES), Hilario Valdez Memorial Elementary School (HVMES), Catalino Acosta Memorial Elementary School (CAMES), and Baay Elementary School (BES) in the City of Batac, and farmer associations in Sarrat, Marcos, and Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.

“With close and constant coordination of the project staff with the teachers and administrators, and use of online platforms, the project was implemented successfully amidst strict restrictions and limited mobility during the pandemic,” said Dr. Nicolas.

Such success is also attributed to the intensified participatory monitoring and evaluation that addressed gaps and immediate needs of the pupil-beneficiaries and farmers.

The teachers and pupil-beneficiaries worked together to ensure the application of knowledge and skills gained in the pre-dispersal trainings. Through the project, the beneficiaries were able to sell some of their harvest aside from their own household consumption. Farmers were also able to generate high income from corn production, even during the time of pandemic.

Other projects were also presented in the said conference, to include the paper on School-on-the-Air program under education track, and the Balik-Probinsya program, under agriculture and fisheries tracks.

The first National Extension Conference is a two-day online conference that aimed to bring together extensionists from all Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the country to share their experiences conducting extension activities, especially during this time of the pandemic. (KS Miguel, SB Nicolas)

DOST PCAARRDDOST 1 - Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. 1Crops Research Division

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