NATIONAL VEGETABLE PROGRAM TO REDUCE RURAL HUNGER NOW IN VVV AND VV AREAS

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) will be the lead implementing agency of a national program on vegetable backyard raising in selected regions of the country along with other DA agencies which include the Bureau of Animal Industry, Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department's Regional Field Units and with the Local Government Units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Plant and Industry Director Lealyn A. Ramos said the program, “Programmang Gulayan ng Masa tungo sa kanayunang malusog at busog sa pag-asa,” also known as Farm Family Program aims to reduce rural hunger and malnutrition though the promotion of integrated food production through backyard gardening in the country’s most vulnerable rural communities and provision of training and starter seeds, planting materials, chicken, swine, small livestock and fish. Communal gardens for those without lots to till will be established and will likewise serve as seed and planting materials nursery in the areas. Technical assistance will be given by the DA agencies co-implementing the program.

Some 1,163 barangays very very vulnerable (VVV) to hunger and malnutrition, earlier identified by the DOH-National Nutrition Council as such, in Masbate, Sulu and Tawi-tawi will be the priority areas for assistance and then the program will move to include 1,000 very vulnerable (VV) barangays in Apayao, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Basilan, Bukidnon, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. The program will benefit some 216,300 rural families over the next five years.

For 2006, some 170 barangays from the provinces of Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Masbate, Apayao and Zamboanga del Norte covering a total of 17,000 rural families.

Agriculture Secretary Domingo F. Panganiban presented the program to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a cabinet meeting.