Bureau of Plant Industry conducted training on vegetable production and medicinal herbs and spices propagation on August 23, 2018 at the CRPSD Conference Room, Malate, Manila.  The Crop Research and Production Support Division regularly conducts seminar on vegetable production on urban setting. This time the seminar was organized and exclusive for the Differently Abled Persons (DAP) and Senior Citizens (SC’s) in Metro Manila.  The training aims to motivate and encourage our DAP’s and SC’s to be productive and reaffirm their value in the community as contributor to the family’s food security and food safety; promote and encourage their full participation in social life and development by providing essential and basic knowledge on vegetable production and medicinal herbs and spices propagation.

Vegetable seeds, herbs and spices plantlets were given away as their start-up kit. Soil cultivation, sowing, pest management, harvesting and production of their own seeds were discussed by CRPSD Agriculturist II, Ernie Lito Bollosa to the eager DAP’s and elderly. He also introduced the setting up of vertical gardens, the use of recyclable containers and making their own fertilizers out of household trash.

Similar training was also conducted for the Senior Citizens and members of the Indigenous People (IP’s) in Baguio City last June 28, 2018. BPI – Baguio National Crop Research Development & Production Support Center gave lectures on Urban Gardening, Mushroom Production and Composting.

In both trainings, Gender and Development Focal Lolinnie A. Eugenio showed a video clip to remind the participants of their roles, rights as well as their responsibilities.

These activities are some of the Agency’s program relative to its mandates for the SC’s and DAP’s and IP’s to help them improve their total well-being and become contributing members of society.