Taguig breathes life to agri-tourism venture

5-hectare land reserved for real-life ‘FarmVille’

The Taguig City government has started the ball rolling on its most anticipated venture into the relatively new and novel concept of urban farming, setting aside more than five hectares of arable land encompassing two barangays for its agri-tourism project.

 This developed as the city launched its 800-sqm urban demo farm last Oct. 20 at the Tipas Elementary School, which hosts a vegetable garden and small concrete fishpens for growing tilapia and catfish fingerlings.

 “We are very excited to work on this project because it would be faithful to our belief that Taguig is really a ‘Probinsyudad’ as we still have farmers here. And we anticipate it would be a healthy and refreshing way to spend our spare time enjoying activities in an urban farm setting,” Mayor Lani Cayetano said.

 The demo farm launched in Tipas Elementary  School is a preview of what to expect in how the city government intends to showcase the urban farm project in the five-hectare land in New Lower Bicutan and Hagonoy lakeshore barangays in the city.

 Mayor Lani said the local government envisions to make agri-tourism in Taguig a viable economic force as many households in the city growing vegetables and other products in their backyards can sell their produce.

 It will also give tourists a variety of farm activities such as buying from an organic food market, picking fruits and feeding animals.

Full support from DA

 Bureau of Animal Industry Acting Director Rubina O. Cresencio, for her part, lauded this advocacy saying that it is “very timely.”

 “The development of the Laguna Lake, including the Taguig Urban Farm, has the full support of the Department of Agriculture,” Cresencio said. “We are going to prove that Urban Agriculture can be successful in Metro Manila.”

 Along with the urban farm, the city will also revive its duck raising industry.

 “People are already visiting our city for the Fort Bonifacio; but Taguig is also a place suited for agriculture so we nurture that potential to become another driver of our city’s economy,” said Mayor Lani.

 The urban farm also promotes organic farming as a healthier lifestyle and safer food production as there are no chemicals used in the high-value crops produced in the farm. ###

FILIPINO VERSION:

5 ektaryang lupain ilalaan sa agri-tourism

 Sinimulan na ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Taguig City ang pagtaguyod sa konsepto ng urban farming sa pamamagitan nang paglalaan ng limang hektaryang lupain, na sakop ng dalawang barangay para sa agri-tourism project.

 Ito’y kasunod na rin nang inilunsad na 800-sqm. urban demo farm nito noong Lunes, Oct. 20 sa Tipas Elementary School kung saan ipinakita ang isang gulayan at kongkretong alagaan ng tilapia at hito.

 “Kami po ay nasasabik nang gawin ang proyektong ito dahil tugma ito sa aming paniniwalang ang Taguig ay totoong isang ‘Probinsyudad’ lalo’t mayroon pang mga magsasaka rito. At umaasa po kaming magiging maginhawa sa pakiramdam at makabubuti sa kalusugan ang paglalaan ng oras sa mga gawain sa isang urban farm setting,” sabi ni Mayor Lani Cayetano.

 Ang demo farm na inilunsad sa Tipas Elementary  School ay pagpapakita lamang sa kung paano nais na  isakatuparan ng Taguig ang urban farm project nito sa limang ektaryang lupain sa baybaying barangay bahagi ng New Lower Bicutan at Hagonoy.

 Sinabi ni Mayor Lani na hangad ng pamahalaang lungsod maging hanapbuhay ang agri-tourism kung ang bawat bahay ay magkakaroon ng sariling gulayan at iba pang produkto na maaaring ipagbili.

 Bukod dito, ay magiging paraan din ito para makaakit ng mga turista tulad nang pagkakaroon ng organic food market, pag-ani ng prutas at pagpapakain sa mga hayop.

 AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT TODO-SUPORTA

Sa panig ni Bureau of Animal Industry Acting Director Rubina O. Cresencio, pinuri nito at sinabing napapanahon ang isinusulong na programa ng Taguig City.

“Ang development ng Laguna Lake kasama na ang Taguig Urban Farm ay lubos na sinusuportahan ng Department of Agriculture. Sa pamamagitan nito ay mapatutunayan nating ang Urban Agriculture ay magtatagumpay sa Metro Manila.” pahayag pa ni Cresencio.

Bukod sa urban farm, muling bubuhayin ng lungsod ang industriya ng pag-iitikan.

“Marami na po ang bumibisita sa aming lungsod dahil sa Fort Bonifacio, subalit ang Taguig ay lugar din para sa agrikultura. Kaya naman nais naming pagyamanin pa ito lalo, na maaaring magpa-unlad sa ekonomiya ng  lungsod,” sabi pa ni Mayor Lani.

Itinataguyod din sa urban farm project na ito ang  organic farming para sa malusog na pamumuhay at ligtas na food production sapagkat walang kemikal na gagamitin sa matataas na uri ng pananim. ###