Crisp. Healthy. Delish.

Thousands of vibrant, harvest-ready lettuces greeted Cenphilians as the solar energy-powered greenhouse with hydroponics technology was officially turned over to Central Philippines State University (CPSU).

The Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) VI, who funded the project, formally handed over the key of responsibility was officially to CPSU President Dr. Aladino C. Moraca during the turn-over program held last October 13.

Now located in the CPSU Main Campus’ Greentech Area, the solar energy-powered greenhouse’s establishment was spearheaded by the DA-RFO VI’s Regional Executive Director Mr. Dennis R. Arpia, with the continued support of DA-Negros Island Region OIC Regional Executive Director Engr. Jose Albert A. Barrogo.

Following the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, students from the College of Agriculture and Faculty were welcomed by the key officials in the greenhouse, where five lettuce varieties are grown and 2,700 heads of which were ready for harvest.

The facility is expected to become an income-generating asset of the university as it produces and improves access to fresh, quality, and healthy food for students, stakeholders, and the community while operating as a concrete model for sustainability, with all electrical components, including the water pump, drip system, cooling system, and lighting system being powered by solar energy.

Sunny Rose, Black Rose, Green Span, Invicta, and Sanggari are the lettuce varieties grown in the new CPSU greenhouse and are affordably sold at PHP20.00 per lettuce head; (the average market price of lettuce varieties in the National Capital Region is PHP182.42 per kilogram based on the Department of Agriculture’s Price Monitoring).

According to the CPSU Production and Enterprise Development Office Director Dr. Maryvic P. Pedrosa, the CPSU Greenhouse will initally be operated for instructional and research purposes, serving as a laboratory for both the students and university faculty to enhance knowledge and explore developments in hydroponics-grown lettuce and other innovations in greenhouse technology.

The greenhouse also opened employment opportunities for two local community members who were hired to tend the grown greens and work on the operations of the facility which reflects potential employment and livelihood perks when replicated in households and farming communities.

Through their respective representatives, Regional Director Engineer Barrogo and Kabankalan City Agriculturist Mr. Ricky Muscosa, relayed their messages and addressed CPSU as the project beneficiary.

Engr. Jose Emie S. Siojo, the owner and general manager of Turbulent Drip Sales, Inc, was also present in the ceremony, representing the project contractor, Turbu Konstrak Inc.

President Moraca, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Grenny I. Jungco, and College of Agriculture and Forestry Dean Dr. Hanzel L. Pedrosa also delivered their messages intended for the students—highlighting the academic and entrepreneurial implications of the facility and challenging the students to uphold CPSU’s mission of generating technology.

Key officials, students, and guests themselves taste-tested the enticing greens on site and bought the products for personal consumption and students were encouraged to engage with entrepreneurial initiatives through reselling the product to gain profit—a foreshadowing to the university’s future endeavors in hydroponics farming, entrepreneurial training, farming community extension activities.

#CPSU #cpsuwhereinnovationsempowerthefuture