The PHP5 million solar-powered greenhouse for hydroponics and drip fertigation system project of the Department of Agriculture (DA) will ensure a stable supply of high-value crops (HVC) in Libertad municipality and its neighboring towns in Antique province.
Sonie Guanco, DA agricultural program coordinating officer in Antique, said in an interview Thursday that the greenhouse facilities, established in Barangay Union in November last year, would be managed by the Libertad's municipal government.
"There are three units of greenhouse that would be planted with HVCs, such as lettuce, bell pepper, cabbage, cherry tomato," he said.
The greenhouse facilities, funded through the initiatives of Senator Loren Legarda and Antique Rep. Antonio Agapito Legarda, are equipped with two overhead water tanks, a hydroponics system, a soilless drip system, and a drip fertigation system.
Guanco said farmers in Libertad usually produce lowland vegetables, such as squash, eggplants, and string beans, but with the greenhouse facilities, they could produce cold-tolerant HVCs.
Farmers in the municipality will be trained on how to grow HVCs and avail of the seedlings from the greenhouse facilities.
"The municipality, being near Boracay island in Aklan province, could also sell the produce to restaurants and other establishments there as part of its economic enterprise," Guanco said.
Other than Libertad, San Remigio town also availed of greenhouse facilities from the DA. It is operated by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.
The greenhouse enables farmers to grow strawberries and cherry tomatoes that they sell to tourists visiting Barangay Aningalan, a tourism destination in San Remigio known for its cold climate and mountain sceneries.
Source: Philippine News Agency