FEBRUARY 1, 2025. Like a plant that grows and bears fruits, the initiative to educate communities in the Bangsamoro Region about the potentials and advantages of vegetable production has been cultivating hopes and progress.
This effort was started in 2021 with the intention to empower the communities of the benefits of planting vegetables as alternative source of income.
Various community groups were organized and were provided with modern and practical trainings on vegetable production.
These groups have also received complete set of tools and equipment useful in cultivating their lands for various varieties of vegetables.
In Brgy. Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur, the group of transitioning combatants has begun for their second season of planting vegetables.
According to them, the first harvest was good, though the income was less due to problem on marketing. Despite that, the group is learning and is determined to strategize for the next season
For this period, they have transplant tomatoes, green chili and bell pepper.
Rowena Kanakan, who is leading the indigenous people (IP) women group in Looy, Upi, Maguindanao showed before the project team their ready-to-harvest vegetables.
The group has been recognized during the Nutrition Month in 2023 by the local government of Upi.
There were two other groups cultivating vegetable farms in this mountainous town like in Brgy. Kibucay and Brgy. Romongaob.
In Brgy. Kinebeka, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, the organization toured the team to their garden with huge variety of eggplants.
Women group in Bugasan, Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte is regularly monitoring their vegetable farm which crops are still young and small.
Hard work and unity of community group in Pantar, Lumbatan, Lanao del Sur is about to yield fresh vegetables that were planted in the beautiful farm fields in the area.
The organization is created in 2024 composed of transitioning combatants who are doing farming as means of living.
At present, these groups who are engaged in vegetable production are undergoing training on sustainable agriculture that will help them with practical knowledge and principles of environmental preservation and climate adaptation expected towards increased competency and productivity.
Each group has also received 1-unit of wood shredder that is useful for their production activities.
The continuing support to indigenous people and transitioning combatants falls under the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition, funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
