Badjaos venture into backyard gardening

TO mitigate malnutrition among the Badjaos in sitio Puntod, barangay Alaska-Mambaling, Cebu City, the Badjao Integrated Area Development Project (BIAD-P) implemented the backyard gardening since August last year.

The Badjaos were taught land preparation, planting and soil cultivation. They planted on their backyard nurseries crops that can withstand heat and drought such as malabar nightshade (alugbati), okra, eggplant, ampalaya and cassava.

In June, crops that are good water absorbers will be planted in time for the rainy season.

“Dako gayud kaayog natabang ang backyard gardening sa amo kay naa naman mi kakuhaan sa among sud-an. Dili na mi maka-tyangge (Backyard gardening helped us a lot because we now have a source of food. We need not go to the market anymore),” said Rufina Badajos, a Badjao and one of the team leaders of team San Francisco.

The eight clusters of the Badjao community were grouped into two teams, namely, San Francisco and Gumamela.

Bernie Jacalan, a 10-year-old Badjao, said, “Pasalamat ko kay naa mi tanom nga mga gulay kay lami na, makawala pa gyud sa mga sakit sa lawas (I’m thankful that we have vegetables because aside from being delicious, these are also healthy for the body).”

The backyard gardens are constantly monitored and the persons in charge are evaluated.

BIAD-P was established by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, together with the Cebu city government and the University of San Carlos-College of Architecture and Fine Arts on January 2011.

For more information about BIAD-P, contact Anton Fuentes at 418-7234 local 515 or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.