DIPOLOG CITY - Some 55 farmers converged at Eco-Tourism Park at Barangay Cogon here to participate in the “Nature Farming Program Seminar” or “Nature Farming Technology System Seminar” conducted by the City Agriculturist Office (CAO).
City Agriculturist Kerr Porlas said the seminar was one of the activities lined up by the city government aimed at increasing the production of farmers using organic fertilizer in line with the program of food sufficiency of the national leadership.
“Nature Farming Program or Nature Farming Technology System is and organic method of farming using organic foliar fertilizer to increase farm productivity and control plant infestation,” Porlas explained.
He also cited the advantages of using organic fertilizer over commercial fertilizer. One of these is the safety of the farmers, as they would not be exposed to hazardous chemicals in commercial fertilizer.
Mayor Evelyn T. Uy also urged the farmers especially the vegetable growers to use organic farming, instead of using pesticides for their farms to protect their health.
During the seminar, the farmers were taught how to make foliar fertilizer and pesticides like manure-based foliar fertilizer, seaweed-based foliar fertilizer, kohol-based foliar fertilizer, madre de cacao, animal manure, urine tea, fish emulsion, fermented plant juice, fermented plant juice to attract insects.
In his inspirational message, Regional Director Constancio Alama of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-9 as read by Provincial Agriculturist Vicente Balingit said that through organic method of farming, one could avoid being infected with cancer due to residual effect of the chemicals.
Director Alama said that under Republic Act 10068, also known as the Organic Act, the DA is mandated to encourage the farmers to use organic farming, it being seen as the simplest answer to hunger and poverty problem in the country.
