Epson Philippines and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines have completed their foodshed project that aims to encourage communities in Tarlac City to grow their own food through sustainable agriculture-based livelihood.
Initiated in 2023, the Food Shed Farming Enterprise Project established two foodsheds in Barangay San Jose de Urquico and Barangay Batang-Batang, providing 60 households in total with local access to over 70 kilos of fresh vegetables including eggplants, chili, and squash.
The foodsheds will also provide income to the communities with generated funds from future harvests to be allocated as group savings.
All activities related to the foodshed will be supported by the Tarlac City Agriculture Office while the management beyond the project term will be handled by the Barangay Captain and the Kagawad Head of Committee on Agriculture.
Epson Philippines president and director Masako Kusama expressed pride about the project with WWF-Philippines.
Residents were also given training on cultivating leafy and fruiting vegetables, establishing effective financial management systems, and value chain upgrading or market linkage.
Other topics include finances management and the concept of group savings and loans associations, as well as food security introduction, requirements for establishing foodsheds, soil sterilizing, seed sowing and composting, integrated pest and disease management, nutrient management, hydroponics production, basic poultry management and husbandry, and proper harvesting and handling.
Over 180 Epson Philippines employees volunteered during the construction of the food sheds and as participants at the WWF-Philippines’ Panda Talks sessions that emphasized the importance of waste management, energy efficiency, and conservation.
