Daram Mayor aims an
Organic Vegetable Production from Women's Farm
|
Mayor
Lucia Latorre-Astorga with Daram Mobile Kusina Women's
Organization in a meeting on the implementation of Organic
Vegetable Production. |
By
MYRA M. TAMBOR
July
10, 2011
DARAM, Samar – Mayor
Lucia Latorre-Astorga surprised the residents of a far flung barangay
Nipa in the island
municipality of
Daram
when she visited the place without notice this week. Awed, the
residents altogether approached the simply visiting Mayor as she comes
nearer to the center of the barangay.
Her intention of
visiting the place is to meet with her Mobile Kusina Women's
organization, popularly known as MK, and introduce to them the Organic
Vegetable Production Project for MK's, where her administration is
currently implementing under the sustainable agriculture program. With
an agriculturist companion, Mr. Richard Milod, an expert in
sustainable agriculture from a partner non-government organization ADF,
the Mayor discussed with the women and barangay officials the concept
of the project.
Barangay Nipa, is just
one of the 6 pilot MK gardens who's actual training on organic farming
is underway within the week. The others are situated in Birawan, Ubo,
Badiang, Cabil-isan and Tugas. With the on-going 3-year program on
nutrition in various elementary schools in partnership with Jollibee
Foundation and ZFF, the Mayor hopes that the garden will cater the
need for vegetables of the said program without purchasing it from the
nearby towns while at the same time fulfilling the goals of the LGU in
addressing the malnutrition problem of the island.
Hence, positively
responding to the MDG's goal of reducing under five and maternal
deaths and addressing micro-nutrients needs of the children and
mothers. The project also hopes to make the garden a livelihood
opportunity primarily for women but generally for the community
itself. Saying that organic vegetable is "in" the market today, the
Mayor said, this simple intentions may and could be turned out into
large and increase income among families in Daram.
