As part of its continued commitment to advancing nutrition, food security, and sustainable community development, the Roots to Shoots (RTS) program successfully trained 77 mothers, caregivers, and pregnant women in practical home gardening from January to February 2026. The 1.5-day sessions were conducted in Barangay San Vicente, Bamban, Tarlac and Barangay Marcos Village & Brgy. Calumpang in Mabalacat City, 3 key communities within the Sacobia project area.
The training aimed to equip participants, particularly those caring for undernourished children, with hands-on skills to establish and sustain household gardens using organic and climate-responsive techniques. Through a combination of lectures, live demonstrations, and guided field practice, participants learned essential gardening practices such as soil preparation, natural fertilization, seed care, pest management, and harvesting.
To support immediate application of their learning, each participant received a home gardening starter kit containing assorted vegetable seeds, organic inputs, and basic gardening tools. These kits were designed to help families begin cultivating nutritious food at home, reinforcing the practical value of the training.
Strengthening household food production remains one of the most sustainable and empowering ways to address undernutrition at the community level. By enabling mothers and caregivers to grow fresh vegetables independently, the initiative supports improved dietary diversity, builds long-term resilience, and opens opportunities for supplemental livelihood.
This effort forms part of RTS program’s integrated approach to maternal and child nutrition, bringing together health, agriculture, and community empowerment to help families build healthier and more sustainable futures.
