Philippines: Malunggay in the City — DA launches urban farming program

MEDIA RELEASE Reference: Roja Salvador
NOVEMBER 30, 2007 3728560 /09178811977

Malunggay in the City: DA launches urban farming program

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday led the launching of an urban farming program designed to empower urban poor communities through farming malunggay to fight hunger poverty and malnutrition.
Dubbed “Malunggay in the City,” the program led by DA Secretary Arthur C. Yap, was launched during a simple ceremony at a basketball at Interior Kasunduan Street, Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City.
A joint project of the DA, Aktibong Kapatiran Tungo sa IIsang Bayan (AKTIB) and the Asian Center for Grassroots Communication and Advocacy (Asian Grassroots), the program aims to promote the backyard planting of malunggay, in the city.
Scientifically known as moringa oleifera lamk, malunggay leaves are naturally rich in vitamins C and A, calcium, protein, iron and potassium.
The DA has identified a total of 14 barangays in five cities and one municipality in Metro Manila as pilot areas for the project, which Yap said would also be launched in urban poor communities in Metro Iloilo, Metro Davao, Metro Naga and other metropolitan areas in the Philippines including Zamboanga del Norte, the poorest province in the country according to a study of the National Statistics Coordination Board in 2006.
The planting of malunggay will initially be carried out in Barangays Commonwealth, Payatas and Pinyahan in Quezon City; Bararangays Bagong Silang, Camarin, Tala Bukid Area and Malaria in Caloocan City; Barangay Adddition Hills in Mandaluyong City; Barangay San Antonio in Makati City; Barangay Nanca and Parang in Marikina City; and Barangay Sta. Ana in the Municipality of Pateros.
Beneficiaries of the program bearing streamers and a marching band at Commonwealth Avenue met the sponsors and DA-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) Director Alicia Ilaga, who was the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the launching.
A cooking demonstration of malunggay recipes was also held during the affair.
During the ceremony, the Philippine Rice Research Institute, one of the DA agencies pushing for biotechnology, distributed 200 bags containing 2 kilograms of rice.
Through the program, urban poor communities in the Quezon City, Caloocan City, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Marikina City and Pateros under AKTIB will receive malunggay seedlings from the DA to help them achieve better quality of life and better health brought about by the crop’s nutritional value and health a greener urban communities.
Malunggay has great agri-business potential. Powdered malunggay leaves us now being used for the biofortification of noodles, soups, bread and other snacks, while the seeds, using biotechnology, can produce pure and multipurpose oil.
The launching of “Malunggay in the City” made possible through the cooperation of the DA-BPO, the Biotechnology for Life Media and Advocacy Resource Center, Asian Grassroots and AKTIB, is one of the highlights of this year’s celebration of the annual National Biotechnology Week, to be held every last week of November starting this year, as mandated by the President in Proclamation 1414. (biolife news service)

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