The story of how edible landscaping helped empower the women of Surigao del Norte was discussed during the online seminar of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) on 24 March 2021 via Facebook live in lieu of the National Women’s Month celebration.

“The [University of the Philippines Los Baños] (UPLB) came up with an idea to fuse ‘yung dalawa [edible food and ornamental plants], kaya nagkaroon tayo ng edible landscaping [EL] kung saan ‘yung itatanim mo bukod sa masustansya at makakatipid ka kasi mayroon ka ng pagkain diyan ay naka-landscape pa siya,” DA-BAR director Dr. Vivencio R. Mamaril said during his opening message.

UPLB Prof. Rowena P. de Guzman served as resource speaker. As co-project leader, she shared the experiences with The Valley Cathedral Christian Church (TVCCC)–Capangdan, the project’s selected target sector of the community.

TVCC is a Securities and Exchange Commission-registered non-government organization chapter.

TVCCC–Capangdan’s women were profiled and trained to develop their own EL garden design, which was further refined and established by the UPLB EL team.

From the process of site selection, final design presentation, and establishment of the EL garden up to monitoring and evaluation, initial findings on the gathered data provided insights on how the EL garden empowered the women participants.     

“Nakakatulong ang edible garden sa aming lugar dito sa TVCCC. Marami nang mga tao [ang] pumunta dito sa amin at saka marami na kaming natutunan at marami na kaming nakilala. . . . Saka hindi na kami mahiyain. Sila [na] rin [ang] pumunta sa amin, [upang] mabisita [ang] aming EL garden,” said TVCCC EL garden in-charge Luzvilla E. Blancada during the impact assessment on women empowerment.

With discussions on companion cropping, organic concoctions, soil mixtures, pest management practices, and requirements, among others, the online seminar garnered 2,149 engagements and reached a total of 7,921 attendees or viewers, which comprises mostly of women. ### (Jireh Alodia R. Laxamana)

#WomenMakeChange Exhibit In recognition of the significant contribution of women in the agriculture and fisheries sector, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) launched the #WomenMakeChange exhibit on 9 March 2020 in Diliman, Quezon City.

Dr. Nicomedes Eleazar, DA assistant secretary for special affairs and DA-BAR director, and Digna Sandoval, DA-BAR assistant director and Institutional Development Division (IDD) head, led the opening of the exhibit which features the photo and painting entries from two of the most successful National Women’s Month (NWM) celebration activities of the bureau.

The exhibit, which is open until the last week of March 2020 is part of the DA-BAR’s activities to recognize and celebrate the valuable contribution of women to our society and was organized by the bureau’s Gender and Development Focal Point System. ###

Women researchers, leaders, agripreneurs and their significant contributions in the agriculture and fishery research for development (R4D) sector were lauded online by the Department of Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) in celebration of the 2021 National Women’s Month (NWM) through the #JuanaSays campaign.

It is an online advocacy anchored on the namesake initiative of the Philippine Commission on Women that provides a daily dose of inspirational quotes from Filipino women.

Featured in the month-long campaign were:

Dr. Irene M. Adion, 2018 Gawad Saka Outstanding Agricultural Researcher. She ushered the development of the research capacities of DA-Central Luzon’s four research outreach stations by establishing good research facilities and harnessing researchers’ competence resulting in award-winning papers and skilled staff.

Myrna D. Sanchez, 2019 Regional Outstanding Rural Woman. She helped ensure food availability at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by organizing the youth and providing them with the necessary skills in backyard gardening.

Rose Mary G. Aquino, 2017 Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardee. She brought to life the Pinoy Gourmix, a vegetable- and protein-rich smart food that has been used in feeding programs nationwide earning PhP 6.8 million net sales from 2014-2019.

Dr. Emily A. Soriano, 2014 Gawad Saka Outstanding Agricultural Researcher. A mushroom expert, she paved the way for improvised community-based mushroom tissue culture laboratories operated and managed by the farmers themselves.

Dr. Leonarda A. Londina, 2017 Regional Gawad Saka Outstanding Researcher. She adopted the Bhoochetana (soil rejuvenation) principles and approach of India and developed locally applicable and appropriate technologies.

Concepcion C. Carillo, 2018 Regional Outstanding Rural Woman. A Magsasakang Siyentista, she co-developed a pelletizer machine that processes organic feeds and uses vermicast as a binder. She also produces bonsais from uncultivated coconut and banana shoots, turning farm wastes into an agribusiness opportunity.

Regina S. Ruferos, 2016 Gawad Saka Outstanding Fisherfolk. She adopted innovations, new technologies, and best practices that spurred her tilapia hatchery to expand. Thus, providing jobs to the locals while imparting her knowledge to them.

Librada L. Fuertes, 2019 and 2014 Regional Gawad Saka Outstanding Agricultural Researcher. She led the use of cashew apple, seldom utilized and neglected, in producing jam, jelly, prunes, among others. The value-adding technology was cascaded to hundreds of farmers through various training.

Lorena V. Duna, 1994 Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardee. She spearheaded the identification of high-yielding soybean; developed and introduced soybean cropping systems; and paved the way to ensure the sustainability of the soybean industry in Northern Mindanao through various institutional agreements and partnerships.

Dr. Berly F. Tatoy, 2017 Gawad Saka Outstanding Agricultural Researcher. She conducted R4D projects that eventually led to the availability and utilization of quality, disease-free potato seeds for market-driven potato variety at the community level.

They have shown the indispensable role of women in bringing about change and inclusive growth and development in the agriculture and fishery sector.

Other activities of DA-BAR in celebration of NWM were photo exhibit and painting contest for the rank and file as well as a free webinar for the public on edible landscaping. ### (Rena S. Hermoso)