Members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Barangay Conversion, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija will soon have a sustainable source of livelihood through growing high-value crops even during dry months.

This, as the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office 3 (DOST-3), in partnership with the Central Luzon State University (CLSU), provided the 4Ps beneficiary group some 30 units of vertical tower hydroponics system with a protective covering that they can use to start growing high-value crops like strawberries, lettuce and basil.

DOST officer-in-charge-Nueva Ecija Provincial Science and Technology Director Leidi Mel Sicat on Monday said the vertical tower hydroponics system is a water-efficient and space-saving technology that offers great possibilities for the beneficiaries who are mostly vegetable growers making a living through rain-fed agriculture.

Sicat said that such limitation translates to limited agricultural productivity and therefore, less food on the table especially during the dry months for the 4Ps vegetable growers.

She said that the vertical tower hydroponics system “could work wonders towards food security because of the soilless and water recirculating principle that makes the vertical garden good news for both the table and the planet.”

Engineer Christopher S. Pascual, the project leader of CLSU Hydroponics and Aquaponics Technology (CHAT), said the vertical garden inside a greenhouse can grow up to 40 plants in each tower, which means more crops can be grown in a small floor area.

He said the vertical tower system also uses a ground heat exchanger for root zone cooling, which enhances productivity especially in areas with hot weather conditions.

“Ginawa nating mas simple ang paraan ng paggamit ng technology na ito para mas madaling maintindihan at magamit ng ating mga beneficiary, para makapag produce na sila ng kanilang mga masusustansiyang ani na maaari din nilang ibenta para pagkakitaan (We made the use of this technology more simple so that our beneficiaries could easily understand and use it for them to produce nutritious yields they can sell to earn income),” Pascual said.

For her part, 4Ps coordinator Marilyn Tiburcio thanked the DOST for this project that could help beneficiaries to have a sustainable source of income amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“Ako po at ang aking mga kasamahan ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa DOST sa ibinigay nilang proyekto sa aming mga 4Ps upang matulungan kami na magkaroon ng matatag na pangkabuhayan lalo na po sa panahon ng pandemya. Makakaasa po kayo na ang ibinigay niyo po sa amin ay aming gagamitin at pagyayamanin. Hinding-hindi po namin kayo bibiguin (I and my colleagues are grateful to the DOST for providing projects to 4Ps like us to have a stable source of livelihood, especially during this pandemic. Rest assured that we will use what you have provided us and we will enrich it. We will never fail you),” Tiburcio said.

The provision of the package of technology to 4Ps members in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged community in Pantabangan was made possible through the funding support to the DOST3 Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology program. (PNA)