The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Quirino has conducted a site inspection and validation on “Buhay sa Gulay” project located in Tobias Farm, Maria Clara, Diffun, to promote urban vegetable gardening in the said province.

DAR-Cagayan Valley Regional Director Samuel Solomero said the project, with an area of half a hectare and owned by Melchor Tobias, is in line with the DAR’s vision of securing food sufficiency in every corner of the country.

“DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones implemented this project in Metro Manila urban areas, transformed idle lands to become vegetable gardens and guided the people around the area to cultivate it so that they would have their own source of food, as well as, additional income, when they sell their products. It is just right that we follow his step in this province,” Solomero said.

Quirino Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Jess Beth Quidasol said the DAR, with Tobias and the residents involved in this project has already come up with plans and arrangements on how to conduct urban gardening in the area.

“We will, initially, implement this project on a half-hectare land involving a number of people to plant various fast-growing vegetables. After the harvest, we would develop another area and add more people to cultivate it. Apart from this, we also have other targets in other towns to develop them for “Buhay sa Gulay” project,” Quidasol said.

Also present during the validation are PARPO I Venilyn Mabunga, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Mariano Antimano Jr. and other DAR provincial office personnel.

Ipapatupad ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) sa lalawigan ng Quirino ang proyektong “Buhay sa Gulay” pagkatapos nitong magsagawa ng site inspection at validation sa Tobias Farm, Maria Clara, sa bayan ng Diffun, upang palaganapin ang urban vegetable gardening sa lalawigan.

Ayon kay DAR-Cagayan Valley Regional Director Samuel Solomero ang nasabing proyekto, na isasagawa sa may kalahating ektaryang pag-aari ni Melchor Tobias, ay sang-ayon sa pananaw ng DAR na maseguro ang kasapatan sa pagkain sa bawat sulok ng bansa.

“Isinusulong ni DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones ang proyektong ito sa mga lungsod ng Metro Manila, ginagawa niyang gulayan ang mga nakatiwangwang na lupa at ginagabayan ang mga taong nasa paligid nito na taniman upang mayroon silang mapagkuhanan ng makakain at upang kumita rin kung ibebenta nila ang kanilang mga ani. Nararaparat lamang na sundan natin ang kanyang yapak sa lalawigang ito,” ani Solomero.

Ayon kay Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Jess Beth Quidasol, ang DAR, katuwang si Tobias at ang mga residente na kasali sa proyekto ay may usapan at plano na kung papaano isasagawa ang naturang proyekto.

“Sa panimulang hakbang, isasagawa natin ang proyekto sa kalahating ektarya at itatanim nila ang mga gulay na mabilis lumaki. Pagkatapos ng anihan, pauunlaring din ang ibang lupain at magdadagdag pa ng mga tao para magtanim. Maliban sa lugar na ito, may mga target na rin tayo sa ibang bayan upang ipatupad ang proyektong “Buhay sa Gulay,” ani Quidasol.

Kasama rin sa validation at site inspection sina PARPO I Venilyn Mabunga, Chief Agrarian Reform Program Officer Mariano Antimano Jr. at iba pang DAR provincial office personnel.