From MHAM to Alegria: Benchmarking for Sustainable Agriculture
In its relentless service to partner communities under the Community Extension Services Projects, the MHAM team visited the municipality of Alegria, Cebu for sustainable agriculture benchmarking last January 22, 2017.
The whole day nutrition advocacy action-plan was part of the immediate response and activities in support to MHAM CM’s Nutrition Resource and Development Center project which was launched a month ago in Barangay Calidngan, Carcar City, Cebu.
With Dr. Carlito Astillero, Mr. Pedro Pañares, Mr. Francisco Bacalla and Mr. Jarvis Prochina at Alegria’s Organic Market
MHAM’s Board of Trustees and Corporate Treasurer Dr. Carlito Astillero, HR Consultant Mr. Pedro Pañares, IT Consultant Mr. Francisco Bacalla and Community Extension Services Consultant Mr. Jarvis Prochina visited Alegria’s Organic Market and the Techno-Demo Farm in Poblacion, Alegria, Cebu.
Primarily intended for household cooks to be trained for alternative culinary method to lessen malnutrition problem, the Nutrition Research Development Center will serve as a training ground for beneficiaries to learn and put into practice serving nutritious foods for their household members especially to the children.
Be natural, go natural with Alegria’s organic products
“One of our directions is to train the household cooks to serve palatable foods to their children such as making alternative meat through veggies and other homemade products. On the other hand, we will also encourage these beneficiaries to utilize their backyard for organic gardening and inspire other locals to plant. Later, the Skill Center will be used by our MHAM CM students as a Social Laboratory and we are also working to develop a Manual for Community Development Program”, said Prochina as he addressed the concern during the discussion.
As the nutrition advocacy can support along to provide nutrition services and reducing malnutrition in upland areas like Barangay Calidngan, this Community Extension Sevices project engages local stakeholders by using a participatory approach towards a shared and same vision for nutrition in the localities.
MHAM CM Alumna and Alegria’s town Mayor-elect Verna V. Magallon
A model town in the south for sustainable agriculture with job-generating livelihood programs, Alegria was awarded for Organic Farming and has been chosen as the Outstanding Organic Municipality in Region VII under the leadership of Mayor Verna Magallon who is a MHAM CM alumna.
SPAAFI Project Manager Mr. Crispino L. Villamor Jr. indicated that organic farming needs assistance and long preparation with challenges and gradual results.
SPAAFI Project Manager Mr. Crispino Villamor Jr. on Alegria’s Happy Pigs
“Unlike before, today’s communities particularly in the province of Cebu are lucky enough to have a town model like Alegria. Before organic farming has been conceptualized and applied here, we used to go to other places outside Cebu just to participate seminars and talks about organic method. Today, we have produced a well-marketed organic pork known as Happy Pigs and so with other products that at times we couldn’t cope the demand from regular buyers”, said Villamor during the orientation and presentation of the organic concept.
Blessed with resources from the sea, the Alegrians also depend on subsistence fishing as the means of living and small-scale fishing has become a major source of livelihood. They are also good producers of handmade products made of bamboo with weaved baskets, hats, mats and home decors.
The Alegrian products with pride
On the other hand, Alegria is also blessed with a rich soil where the local folks harvest various species of crops that can support their daily needs and consumption directly as food and as a source of income.
Today, Alegria has developed in various fields through partnership with government agencies including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who provided them agri-based technologies through Shared Service Facility (SSF) program and non-government organizations especially on its agricultural sustainability and job generations.
Be natural, go natural…
In addition, Villamor also shared that Alegria’s development is channeled from the Saint Peter Academy of Alegria Foundation, Inc. (SPAAFI) which caters academic scholarship program to deserving Alegrian high school students. Funded by a German NGO through its founder Gescela Wirtgen, SPAAFI, with its president Dr. Gilberto Magallon and his wife Mayor Verna Magallon as an administrator played an important role in the development of this town through its continuing effort to alleviate poverty through education. To help the town in addressing and minimizing the problems of out-of-school youth and to upgrade literacy of the residents through open opportunities to quality education, SPAAFI produced thousands of Alegrian youth who are now professionals in various fields, both here and abroad.
Moreover, SPAAFI has several beneficiaries at present through organizational development and integrated natural farming. Its Livelihood Services Department includes sewing, carpentry, canteen and bakery. The Reinhard Wirtgen Memorial Hospital in honor of the founder’s deceased husband is one of the many Health Services that SPAAFI offers along with other Health Centers.
SPAAFI President Dr. Gilberto Magallon in an interview said that Alegria is now into its eight years in organic advocacy.
SPAAFI President Dr. Gilberto Magallon during his presentation
“As a doctor, we go to organic for health reasons as it is more nutritious, safe, clean and free of chemicals. As of now our lifestyle related diseases such as hypertensions and cardiac problems are more on food and diet and this is our problem today. With organic, our farmers are the ones who make their own fertilizers, breaking the cycle of doing the farming method in an easy manner through commercial fertilizers. Such eight years and counting is the fruit of our travels to other areas and our learnings are relentlessly applied and has been developed. I believe that being organic is the only way to compete other Asian countries when it comes to agricultural production”, said Dr. Magallon.
When doctors meet with the same purpose: Dr. Magallon and Dr. Astillero
As a model organic municipality, the Techno-Demo Farm serves as the venue for forums, seminars and farm visits from various groups and institutions.
The NFS concoction, vermi cast, bokkashi, mushroom production, moringa chips, moringa powder, turmeric powder and desiccated coconut are well-produced inside the Techno-Demo Farm.
The Farm Plan was started in 2007 together with the lay-outing and plotting of the Organic Garden. Today, exotic and common fruits have grown along with herbal plants, non-legumes, grasses and root crops.
Organic Vegetable and Fruit Production
Organic Free-Range Chicken Raising
Organic Hog Raising: Chemical-free and not bathe until sold hogs but with no foul smell
Meanwhile, Alegria’s SPAAFI-Affiliated Farm has become the model for vegetable and fruit-bearing trees production, free-range chicken raising and chemical-free hog raising. To complete, they also have the Water Impounding and Tilapia Farm.
Water Impounding and Tilapia Farm
At present, this model municipality continues its Agro-Livestock Development which includes credit support to fishing community for fishing gear and equipments, corn and vegetable production, non-agriculture intervention for baking, carpentry and sewing, scholarship programs and health services, thus, creating better opportunities to the Alegrian populace.
The whole day benchmarking was one of the many ways of reaching out to the less-fortunate in addressing nutrition and food security problems in the province particularly in Barangay Calidngan. This recipient-community has been chosen as Mr. Francisco Bacalla, a native of Calidngan provided a parcel of land to be used for the coming Nutrition Resource Development Center.
On top of these, this MHAM CM’s dedicated program initiated by the Community Extension Services in response to proper nutrition is a humble beginning and a contribution towards a healthy lifestyle within local households. (Ana Liza Abao)