Far different from its setting in the past two years, the Department of Agriculture – Caraga through its High-Value Crops Development Program celebrated its High-Value Crops Week in the marshland barangay of Sabang Gibong in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur on April 19.

With the theme “Green Revolution, Road towards Exportation”, Regional HVCDP Coordinator Dailinda Mamalis said that to achieve a healthy nation, the effort must start from the barangay level, the reason why Sabang Gibong is the chosen area for the conduct of the celebration.

Last October 2022, the community received 50 beds of floating gardens worth P175,000.00. Additional vegetable seeds, garden tools, and vermi-cast were turned-over to Barangay Captain Felipa Goloran.

“The office really supported the Floating Garden project because it is what the community needs. Also, because vegetables are expensive, we can now have something to eat without needing to go to the market,” Mamalis added.

                OIC- Agriculture Program Coordinating Officer for Agusan del Sur Jun Anthony Ouano also lauded Barangay Sabang Gibong for embracing the intervention fully and creating additional income and sustaining food security through the floating vegetable garden.

                “This initiative is part of the DA’s climate change initiative to mitigate the 3-4 months of yearly flooding in this area. We are glad that you continue to adopt the technology even after the waters have dried up. To see that you’re expanding the gardens to cater additional beneficiaries is worth emulating”, said Ouano.

Moreover, a ceremonial harvest of the planted vegetables in the floating garden and planting of onion seedlings was also conducted.  

The HVC week is celebrated every April to mark the implementation anniversary of the Republic Act 7900 or the High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995, which aims at promoting the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of high-value crops. (Kent Warren H. Fugoso, Information Officer I, DA-RAFIS 13)