This initiative aims to complement the ongoing implementation of the 120-day feeding cycle by ensuring a steady supply of fresh, nutritious ingredients sourced directly from the daycare centers’ backyards. The gardening project also seeks to address shortfalls in meal preparation and foster stronger parent and community participation in early childhood care and development.

Beyond its nutritional goals, the Backyard Gardening initiative is also designed to foster and strengthen convergence among Local Government Unit (LGU) offices and resources, ensuring that services across sectors are aligned in addressing child welfare and community development. The project has since galvanized support from municipal agriculture offices, barangay councils, and local social welfare offices.

In Las Nieves, parents from Brgy. Rosario and Brgy. Poblacion came together to plant vegetable sprouts provided by the Municipal Agriculture Office. With sleeves rolled up and tools in hand, parents dug into the soil side-by-side, laying the foundation for a healthier and more food-secure future for their children.

Following the planting activity, parents also participated in a brief orientation on the Basic Concepts of Health and Nutrition, which aimed to raise awareness on the importance of proper feeding practices, balanced diets, and hygiene in promoting child growth and development. The session reinforced the idea that backyard gardening and nutritional education go hand in hand in fighting malnutrition.

During the activity, Las Nieves Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Elde G. Japos, Jr., RSW, emphasized that the gardening initiative is more than a food security measure.

“This is a behavioral intervention,” Japos said. “It is about forming healthy eating habits and positive attitudes towards food, starting in our own homes and in the community. We cannot win against malnutrition unless we change how we view nutrition and its role in our children’s future.”

DSWD SFP Regional Focal Person Lea Alegarbes, ND, expressed appreciation to the barangay councils present for their strong support. She highlighted the importance of local government and community collaboration in uplifting the standards of the Child Development Centers, citing recent project development assessments.

“Your support enables us to go beyond mere feeding — we are creating learning environments where children not only eat well but grow with values of sustainability and community,” Alegarbes shared.

The provincial launch marks a key step in the region’s broader strategy to enhance the impact of the Supplementary Feeding Program. With shovels, seeds, and shared knowledge, communities across Agusan del Norte are planting the seeds of a healthier tomorrow — together.