COVID-19 Response Propels Ilonggos to ‘Go Lokal’ and ‘Grow Lokal’ Food through Sustainable Urban Farming

Creating healthy, green, and sustainable food systems through ‘locally adapted’ urban farming can mitigate the risks brought by COVID-19.

The global health crisis caused an economic meltdown and its serious impacts can lead to probable food crisis due to border restrictions. City dwellers, restaurants, and businesses disconnected from rural areas will find it hard to source their food.

Meanwhile, farmers and local producers will find it challenging to deliver the produce, handle food safety measures, and deal with produce wastes. The COVID-19 crisis highlights the importance of local food production to ensure food security. It also tests how farmers and distributors handle the surplus in food production areas. Iloilo will have to turn to urban farming to accelerate local food production and distribution as COVID-19 disrupts transportation.

In partnership with local organizations like Root Ball and Feast; businesses such as Marriott, Hotel del Rio, and Monkey Grounds; and individuals like Ms. Sue Guadaña, the city plans to see public spaces turn into urban farms to grow food.

‘Triple threat’

Because of COVID-19, restrictions on movement have disrupted transportations of food supplies, thus raising concerns on food shortages and probable price increases.

Food supply

In an interview with Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon and Jaybo Nava of Monkey Grounds, the city imports most of its produce from neighboring municipalities and further regions like Baguio and Sarangani.

The pandemic sees how the city feeds itself. “We need to improve local food supply and lessen our reliance on importations,” Nava said.

Ganzon also stressed how to rule out pesticides and chemical fertilizers on food crops for everyone’s wellbeing. He mentioned that Ilonggos are also worried about how these compounds can make their way from farm to table.

What’s more, eating healthy foods to ensure wellbeing is also one way to define how Ilonggo communities undertake urban farming approach. Creating healthy, green, and sustainable food systems through ‘locally adapted’ urban farming can mitigate the risks brought by COVID-19.

Also, the threat of glut supplies of fruits and vegetables results in unwanted food wastage. Unfortunately, food-producing areas have to throw excess produce due to little to no sales from the city.

Food distribution

Another threat is the distribution industry due to delivery slowdowns. These hurdles disrupt food demand and supply chains. To avoid food shortages, it’s important that stakeholders that countries keep the food supply chains going.

Since the quarantine, farmers and suppliers face the obstacles of finding alternative distribution channels to reach consumers. With limitations on groceries, malls, and public markets, Iloilo struggles to find different initiatives to support local businesses and food producers.

For example, the Department of Agriculture VI and the Iloilo City Government’s Uswag Rolling Store commenced the Kadiwa on Wheels last April.

This protracted health crisis put a strain on food distribution and affects everyone from farmers, production plants, shipping and distributors, retailers, and consumers.

Food preparation and safety nets

Ilonggos also seek an urban farming or sustainability model focused on fresh fruits and vegetables. Nava stated that produce handling and preparation is important, especially now that we’re facing a crisis. He cited an example that poor food safety handling of local vendors can affect the nutrition situation of many Ilonggos.

Consumers often rely on street food vendors and those in wet markets for their produce. However, it can spell disaster for both parties as consumers won’t usually purchase ‘unhealthy’ produce (think unsafe preparation of onions, garlic, or fruits for consummation) and ends up being deficient in nutrition. L

Likewise, this results in poor sales and livelihood income for vendors, farmers, and retailers. Not to mention, wastage of food.

Good nutrition is important, stressed Ganzon. As the world battles against COVID-19, people need a punch of nutrients. For now, there are no vaccine or foods supplements can prevent COVID-19, but maintaining a healthy body is imperative to support the immune system.

‘Action plans’

There have been urban farmers advocating for sustainable livelihood long before the pandemic, but COVID-19 helps further propelled the government’s priorities for food production. The campaign for sustainability agriculture also helped shift people’s perspective on urban farming.

There’s a renewed interest in urban farming or backyard gardening and Ilonggos can take part in this initiative.

Free seeds

To further establish the interest in urban farming, the DA and the city government distributes free seeds to families to start their backyard gardening. This is one way to empower residents to be sustainable and self-reliant.

The DA has since provided nearly 9,500 seeds under its Plant, Plant, Plant Program. The government institution has also launched the “Binhi Ko, Tanom Ko, Post Ko” campaign, where those who availed of the said seeds may post on Facebook with the hashtag #postyourownveggies.

Also, there are various organized programs in the barangay levels as mentioned by urban farming advocate, Sue Guadaña.

“One of the barangays in Cabatuan made legislations regarding this and became a contest in their barangay,” she said.

The first urban edible garden hotel in Iloilo City or the Philippines?

According to Andrea Trivilegio of Root Ball, Hotel del Rio turned some zones of its poolside areas into an urban farming space.

Trivilegio said, “We have a project now with Hotel del Rio to change their landscape and plant fruits and veggies. It will be the first urban edible garden in Iloilo City, and probably the first hotel in the Philippines to have this.”

Root Ball will be giving out seeds to the public as well with one condition only: to return two seeds to them after a successful plant growth. This is to ensure that other individuals or families may avail of the seeds.

Pop-up markets

The demand for produce is always there and local producers are exploring opportunities such as pop-up stores to reach the community.

This inspired other urban farmers and local producers to roll out more programs in Iloilo City. Feast and Root Ball, for instance, launched a one-week sustainable farming and local farmer’s market event.

“Our group is promoting sustainable urban farming, concentrating on edible greens and sustainability in an urban setting,” Councilor Ganzon mentioned. “We move to one mall from another, to help them jumpstart their business,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nava said they’re looking into training for local vendors when handling food. This includes food safety and preparation for the consumption of the community.

Restaurants and local food

Also, restaurants such as Marriott and other hotels tap directly with farmers to handpick certain vegetables they need in the kitchen. This spruced up a lot of advantages to the pantry such as freshness, unique flavors, and increased variety.

What’s more, restaurants get to support the local economy as they foster relationships with local farmers in the neighborhood. Although local foods are based on seasons, restaurants get to rotate and be creative with their menu.

Local farms often grow the same produce, but with restaurant partnerships, they get to have an increased in production varieties. But, one could question how some plants or seeds adapt to the outdoor conditions of Iloilo?

Nava said that the soil and seedlings will need ‘to adapt’ against the environs of the city before being planted. “Those plants usually die or grow weaker in comparison; therefore, it needs to be acclimatized.” He said if the seedlings or plants are exposed more to rain, sun, temperature, or air, it’ll toughen them up.

This process is called the ‘hardening’ of plants to prevent uproot shock that results in stunted growth or wilting from sudden changes in soil and temperature.

Reducing wastes

The local food supply chain also brought a problem to Ilonggo farmers: wastage. Curbing the problem of food wastage can help balance the supply chain. During the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), local government units also distributed vegetables and fruits to families that are at most risk during this pandemic. For towns and municipalities with excess supply, LGUs get into action for distribution to areas in need.

Ganzon said to reduce food waste, excess produce can be canned, pickled, or turned to jams and spreads also. Meanwhile, the scraps can be turned into compost and act as an organic fertilizer.