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More Filipinos turn to backyard farming for daily food needs, DOH study shows

More Filipino households are choosing to grow their own food through backyard gardening and small-scale animal raising, according to the Department of Health's 2024 Health Promotion Longitudinal Study. According to the study, a growing number of Filipinos prefer to source their daily meals from homegrown vegetables and home-raised livestock, reflecting a shift toward healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. With this, the health department is promoting simple and practical ways for families to start their own backyard farms, emphasizing that even small home spaces can be transformed into productive and nutritious gardens. 'Gawing isang luntiang tahanan ang iyong bahay na puno ng masustansyang halaman,'the agency said in its health promotion post on Facebook. (Make your home a green and healthy space.) To help households begin their own food gardens, the DOH recommends choosing an area that meets the following conditions: Receives full sunlight throughout the day Has a reliable water source and well-drained soil Enjoys good air circulation Has fertile soil suitable for planting The health department has been supporting community- and home-based gardening efforts as part of its wider campaign to improve food security, promote healthy eating habits, and build resilience against rising food costs and supply disruptions. Backyard gardening also supports the DOH's push for preventive health care, as access to fresh, chemical-free produce has been linked to lower risks of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Meanwhile, community-based gardening efforts like BGC's urban farm and a Tondo community turning an idle soccer field into a vegetable farm, continue to rise in popularity. In 2024, Quezon City even started offering land tax exemptions to encourage urban farms. Just a word of warning if you want to start your backyard farming: Make sure to have thorough post-harvest processing to avoid risk of presence in your harvest. — LA, GMA Integrated News