German pharmaceutical and agricultural firm Bayer has built a second vegetable farm in the Philippines in line with its push for sustainable farming.
Situated beside Southville 7 in Barangay Dayap in Calauan, Laguna, the 2,200-square meter farm is intended to support the regular feeding program in the community and contribute to providing an income source for community residents turned farmers.
Initially, the crops grown in the Calauan vegetable farm included sweet corn, squash, tomatoes and bottle gourd. The site also has a seedling nursery and a kubo (hut) that serves as a venue for training activities related to recommended farming practices.
The project will benefit relocated communities in the area as the initiative aims to augment food and livelihood requirements for families where needed. This is the second project of the company, with the first project launched in 2020.
Bayer partnered with Rise Against Hunger Philippine, an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and aid to the world’s most vulnerable, for the two projects. Under the partnership, part of the produce will go to the feeding program, the farmer volunteers and the Don Bosco Technical and Vocational Education Training Center in Calauan.
(Sources: The Philippine Star; Manila Bulletin)