19IB, former rebels to intensify implementation of LBP’s mini-farm program

By 19th Infantry Battalion, 8ID PA
April 17, 2014

KANANGA, Leyte – Lt. Col. Nedy Espulgar, commanding officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion said the military will continuously assist the former rebels and will urge more to include their relatives, to avail and intensively implement LBP’s mini farm program.

This was the military official’s commitment, in his avid interest to help their former enemies, the former rebels, during the visit of Mr. Domingo Diaz, LBP Director and Mr. Gil Carandang, the Father of Philippine Organic Farming in 19IB’s camp at Brgy. Aguiting, Kananga, Leyte around 10:00 a.m. of Saturday, April 12.

Diaz and Carandang together with other LBP staff stayed one and a half hour at 19IB camp. They were warmly welcomed by the military and by the 20 former rebels who also helped 19IB in all the preparations. The duo’s visit was arranged purposely to evaluate the status of the model organic garden for all of the clusters held by the military in the “Bangon Sustainable Integrated Natural Organic Mini Farm Program”. The 300 square meters commando organic garden which is a parcel of the “Bangon Alpha Kananga Cluster” has also passed the standard protocol of the mini farm program as surveyed by Carandang.

With the said project, 19IB will be maintaining four (4) out of the 11 clusters organized by LBP through the Land Bank Coutryside Development Foundation Incorporated (LCDFI). The four (4) clusters are Kananga, San Isidro, Calubian and Jaro with a planting area of not less five (5) hectares.

The mini-farm program is specially designed for vegetable growers. Under the said concept, a grower is guaranteed to gain a net monthly income of not less than P10,000 in a 1,000 square meters farm area. In the said farm size, raising swine and poultry may also be integrated.

Also in this concept, vegetable growers will learn the methods of land preparation and management as well as formulating natural fermented solutions to enhance the growth of vegetables and to control pests and diseases.

Lt. Col. Espulgar believed that the mini farm concept is the ultimate tool that can be a show window to best address the dilemma on poverty thriving not just in former rebels but also in most communities.