Urban Gardeners in Quezon City Trained to Conserve and Promote Indigenous Vegetables

QUEZON CITY – 25 April 2024 – To promote sustainable urban agriculture and strengthen food and nutrition security, 74 participants (64 female, 10 male) from six districts of Quezon City were trained on indigenous vegetable propagation, nursery and seedling management, seed saving, food safety and preparation, and Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (PMEL).

The training, conducted in Sunnyville by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), the Institute of Plant Breeding – University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-UPLB), the International Potato Center, and the Quezon City Local Government Unit, aimed to build the capacity of Joy of Urban Farmers (JOUF) coordinators and gardeners in cultivating nutrient-dense, climate-resilient traditional vegetables in urban settings.

Through hands-on demonstrations and knowledge exchange, participants learned practical techniques for growing and conserving locally adapted vegetables. A total of 341 seedlings (7 types, 9 varieties), 350 seed packs (5 types, 5 varieties), and 37 liters of kakawate-based fertilizer were distributed to seven established urban gardens. These gardens will be monitored to assess crop adaptability and community preferences.

By highlighting the nutritional value and cultural importance of indigenous vegetables, the activity supports efforts to mainstream traditional crops in urban food systems and foster more resilient and sustainable city environments.