Benefits of organic vegetables grown in Raisebeds: Experience of selected Urban Barangays in Zamboanga City, Philippines Amidst Covid 19 Pandemic
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Abstract
The COVID 19 pandemic crisis had significantly caused disruptions on local food production and distribution, from local buying to wholesaling, and from cross-regional logistics to consumptions and this is felt across the highly urbanized barangays in Zamboanga City, Philippines. This paper presents the experienced of selected urban barangays amidst CoVid 19 pandemic. The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development or PCAARRD funded a project to evaluate the yield level and income of organic vegetables grown in raisebeds with 150 participating beneficiaries. Ten (10) raisebeds were required for each beneficiary where 1.0 sqm utilized for one vegetable crop per raisebed making a total of 1,500 raisebeds. A total of 5,446.1 kg of assorted vegetables were harvested in eight months period, of this total, leafy vegetables contributed 79.8% (4,347.5 kg), while fruit vegetables shared 20.2% (1,098.6 kg), respectively. The total vegetables produced generated PHP236,630.50 (~4,732.6 USD) in total sales or this is equivalent to PHP1,577.54 raisebed-1. Vegetable grown in raisebeds also offered direct access to food where each beneficiary consumed about 40% of the total vegetables produced which provide a savings (indirect income) of PHP94,652.20 from the total food consumed, while 60% (PHP141,978.30) derived from direct sales of surplus vegetables (direct income). Direct access to healthy food and income are the potential benefits of vegetable grown in raisebeds in addressing food security and unemployment amidst CoVid 19 pandemic. Organic vegetable production in raisebeds is one initiative to further enhance the capability of urban communities to be resilient and self-sufficient. Expansion of this type of production system with improved soil mix using locally available organic substrates, home-based organic inputs and concoctions can be achieved if government interventions and community supports are in place
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