ILIGAN CITY (PIA)–In a significant development for agricultural education, Iligan City National High School (ICNHS) is set to embrace a state-of-the-art smart hydroponic farming system.
This innovative system will empower science curriculum learners and students enrolled in the school’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) track to expand their research capabilities and revolutionize farming practices.
This visionary project aligns with the school’s commitment to environmental stewardship and aims to nurture research-driven programs in science, technology, and engineering.
Spanning a floor area of 36 square meters, the farming site will be dedicated to cultivating lettuce and other leafy greens, fostering research initiatives, generating livelihood opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
The Maxwell and Einstein (Maxtein) Alumni Batch 1997 of ICNHS generously provided funding of P913,467.80 to support the construction of this advanced farming system with technical collaboration with the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT).
Principal Zosimo Gomez of ICNHS expressed deep gratitude to the Maxtein Batch 1997 for their unwavering support of the school.
“Sa leadership sa Maxtein group, salamat kaayo sa inyong pagbalik dinhi sa atoang eskwelahan ug paghatag sa inyohang serbisyo labaw na gayud sa paghatag ug pag-alagad sa mga kabataan nga muhimo sila’g mga lakang dili lamang sa mga classroom kung dili diha sa actual life nga situation diha sa atoang tinguha for sustainable development,” said Gomez.
(Thank you very much for coming back to our school and providing your service, which is more than providing service to the children so that they can take steps not only in the classroom but in the actual life situation in our desire for sustainable development)
Following the formal ground-breaking ceremony, construction is set to commence immediately and is expected to be completed within two to three weeks. Once the system is ready, automated watering will facilitate the cultivation of lettuce seeds, with the first harvest anticipated within 45 days.
To ensure the sustainability of the project, the science teachers at City High will receive ample training, with cooperation and monitoring from the Department of Electronics Engineering at MSU-IIT and the Institute of Electronics Engineers in the Philippines. This collaboration aims to provide fertile ground for researchers to explore and optimize the system’s long-term viability.
Dr. Jefferson Hora of Maxtein ‘97 expressed hope that the success of City High’s agricultural production would set a benchmark for remote barangays engaged in similar agricultural activities.
“Hopefully didto satoang mga remote barangays nga naa sa agri-production, so hopefully this would be a good benchmark to the community, especially for the Iligan City,” said Hora.
(Hopefully, our remote barangays that are in agri-production will do this, so hopefully, this would be a good benchmark for the community, especially for Iligan City)
This pioneering initiative is expected to empower other schools in Iligan City to develop their own sustainable farming systems, fostering a greener and more eco-conscious community. (AAA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
