A Bacolod-based foundation is providing assistance to farmers in six Typhoon Odette-hit local government units in Negros Occidental and has launched a community garden for residents of Barangay Pahanocoy in Bacolod City.
Ramon Uy Sr., president of the RU Foundry’s Ecological and Agricultural Development Foundation Inc., said the foundation will provide farmers in typhoon-hit areas with a P5,000 loan each, interest-free, to grow rice and vegetables, Uy said.
Included are 80 farmers in Sipalay City, 50 in Candoni, 35 in Cauayan, as well as others in San Carlos City and Salvador Benedicto, and coffee growers in Murcia, he said.
The foundation will provide farming technology training and bring equipment to the typhoon-hit areas to help farmers convert the debris from “Odette” into organic fertilizer, he added.
Meanwhile, the foundation along with the Rotary Club of Bacolod North and Barangay Pahanocoy officials on Thursday launched a 7,000 square meter community garden on property owned by Billy Lopue in Pahanocoy that will benefit about 50 families, Uy said.
They will produce bananas, red lady papayas, lemon grass and organic vegetables in the community garden, he said.*