Beginning January 17, 2018, NVC is signing contracts with 193 Negros Occidental small farmers who till a total of 89 hectares of land in 6 different locations across the province. According to the terms of the contract, the farmers will grow–and NVC commits to purchase–a total of 56 tons of produce to fulfill NVC’s 2018 requirements. The farm produce (including nutritious vegetables like alogbati, saluyot, squash, mongo, and malunggay, as well as batwan fruit) will serve as raw ingredients for the food packs manufactured by NVC, such as Mingo Meals and rice packs for its partner organization, Rise Against Hunger Philippines.
Domingo Divinagracia (signing his NVC growing contract in the photo) is a 32-year old farmer who tills his father’s 2-hectare farm, purchased from savings as an overseas worker. The municipality of Hinigaran, where Domingo lives, also allows him to work on a 4-hectare site in exchange for taking care of the area where garbage is segregated and young trees have been planted.
As okra flowers bloom in the garbage fill area, Domingo has readied his squash seeds to be sowed, grown and harvested to fulfill his growing contract. His harvest will be processed to fill the meal packs of Rise Against Hunger Philippines, which will be served to impoverished families who need nutritional support.
NVC is very proud to be part of this virtuous cycle!
