THE MARIANO Marcos State University launched a bio-intensive gardening project in Batac, Ilocos Norte to help communities sustain food production amid the pandemic.

Dubbed as “Bio-Intensive Gardening: Panlaban sa COVID-19 para sa Ilocos,” the project seeks to train communities on how to establish vegetable gardens using the technology created by MMSU’s Research and Extension Directorates.

“The project includes an orientation on vegetable gardening and values formation, and training on vegetable and organic fertilizer production, as well as farm planning and budgeting,” MMSU said.

“Beneficiaries are the families of 40 pupils from the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School, Hilario Valdez Memorial Elementary School, Catalino Acosta Memorial Elementary School, and Baay Elementary School in Batac,” it added.

The university said trainers were led by Prof. Beatriz Malab, Marissa Atis, Prof. Geovannie Stanley Malab, Dr. Floramante Pastor and Dr. Sosima Demandante.

After the training, the team validated the beneficiaries’ suitable planting areas and started distributing vegetable seeds and organic and inorganic fertilizers.

“The beneficiaries are expected to become models on vegetable gardening by sharing the POT to their own communities, thus ensuring food sustainability in the locality,” Atis said.

The initiative is in support to the Department of Agriculture’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program and the Department of Education in Batac’s Agmula, Agtaraken, Agtagibalay, ken Agliwliwa program.