Schools grow own produce for feeding programs

Some public schools are finding innovative ways to feed students and teach life skills through growing their own food, as the Department of Education (DepEd) steps up efforts to integrate agriculture into its School-Based Feeding Programs (SBFP).

At Ramon Torres Malingin Farm School (RTMFS) in Negros Occidental, harvests are incorporated into its feeding program, with vegetables such as okra, eggplants, and bottle gourds grown in their two-hectare rice field.

RTMFS Principal Roger Raymundo said the initiative aims to instill the value of food production while helping students recognize farming as a viable livelihood. He pointed out that the farm school’s curriculum serves as a foundation for students' lifelong learning.

“Farming can sustain them. You won’t go hungry if you know how to plant,” Raymundo added.

Meanwhile, Sta. Cristina Elementary School (SCES) in Dasmariñas, Cavite reported a 93.80 percent success rate in their implementation of SBFP, which uses school-grown produce in preparing traditional Filipino meals. This translates to around 810 out of 812 learner-beneficiaries now being categorized as ‘nutritionally adequate’.

Dishes served under the SBFP include cost-effective meals such as ginisang munggo, lugaw, and sopas.

The feeding program aligns with the observance of Filipino Food Month, celebrated every April to commemorate local culinary traditions and emphasize the role of food in shaping the cultural identity of Filipinos.