Some 250 farmers from six barangays in Pagadian City to
include Danlugan, Gubac, Gubang,
Begong, Baloyboan, and Macasing,
showcased a wide array of organically grown vegetables such as pechay,
tomatoes, eggplant, string beans, cucumber, bitter gourd, and swamp cabbage.
The field day proved that organic farming can produce bountiful harvest aside
from its health benefits.
Mr. Alberto Orot, a farmer from Brgy. Danlugan said, “kung
wala kining programa dili nako masayran unsaon pagpalambo sa among mga tanom
nga utanon gamit ang organiko nga mga paagi, kauban sa ubang mga mag-uuma (Without this program, I won’t be able to
know how to improve vegetable production the organic way together
with other farmers).
Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Eduardo
B. Holoyohoy said “Organic farming is the favorite of our Secretary Proceso J. Alcala that he put it into law
when he was still Congressman of Quezon Province known as Republic Act 10068. We are thankful that we
have organic practitioners who are wholeheartedly sharing with us the value of
planting vegetables through organic farming. Vegetable farming under the High
Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), is an important component in the food
sufficiency program of the department. It is good that we are gathered here as
advocates using organic technology to have high volume of organic vegetables.
Our learning must not be left unheeded because there is a big market waiting
for us. The DA programs will complement your dedication in this field.”
For his part, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Center
Director, Dennis C. Procianos said “it
is not yet too late to save our lives and the generations to come. We just have
to bring back nature at its best through vegetable organic farming. Let us try
not to use chemicals and we shall discover that through organic agriculture, we
can even plant during off-season. Through this we can help achieve the goakl
of President Benigno Aquino III and our
DA Secretary for food sufficiency in the country. This is a big help for the
economy of the Philippines. If there is something that we must share, it should
be safe and healthy vegetables. Share this technology to your
neighbors. “
In behalf of Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co, Dr. Priscilla
“Dicky” Fernandez, Rural Improvement Club President of Pagadian said “the
learning during this training must be brought to the community. Organic farming
is no longer new to us here in Pagadian City and the 377 barangays in the first
district. Organic products are more expensive and so if we produce more, we can
earn more. When we use chemicals in our farms, it will be hazardous to the
consumers because of its residues accumulated in the body that will endanger
our lives and without us noticing, our days are shortened.”
The Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 known as RA 10068 recognizes the urgency of shifting to an organic agriculture model to
veer away from the excessive use of agrochemical inputs used in conventional
farming systems. This also supports the
food self-sufficiency and nutrition security through sustainable organic
and ecological agriculture in the Philippines and the production of ‘healthier’
food through organic farming. It is aggressively supporting the shift
from chemical-intensive farming to the more environment-friendly and low-carbon
food, production practices in organic or natural farming, as well as organic
way of life among consumers.
The
season-long training implemented by the DA and ATI is showing its utmost dedication to the
promotion of the community-based organic agriculture program in the region and in the Zamboanga Peninsula in particular.(JPA/ALT/Alpha Solivo/DA-9/PIA9)