By Gideon C. Corgue
The Dumingag Organic Vendors Association (DOVA) in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur with almost 50 members was given the opportunity to display their freshly harvested organic vegetables during the 1st Mindanao Sustainable Organic Agriculture Congress held on February 19-22 at the municipal gym which carries the theme “Towards Building a Stronger Sustainable Organic Agriculture in Mindanao”.
DOVA president Cleopatra Balbastro said the organic vegetables were harvested from their respective gardens and some of it were bought from the farmers in barangays and are sold at reasonable prices.
Balbastro said they are happy that the 1st Mindanao Congress was conducted in Dumingag for them to know that DOVA members are actively supporting a sustainable environment and organic farming.
“Nalipay kaayo mi nga ang Mindanao Network for Sustainable Organic Faming Systems ug inabagan sa kagamhanan sa Dumingag pinaagi ni Mayor Pacalioga naghimo ning maong kalihokan aron among mapakita nga kami ang aktibong nagsuporta sa organikong pagpanguma ug mabaligya ang among mga organikong utanon sa mga dumuduong(We are very happy that the Mindanao Network for Sustainable Organic Faming Systems in coordination with the local government unit of Dumingag is conducting this event for us to show that we are actively supporting organic agriculture and we are selling our organic vegetables to the visitors), Balbastro said.
Balbastro said DOVA required to adopt organic agriculture where all of them were compelled to put up organic vegetable garden. “We are also required to undergo 2-day seminar on organic agriculture by the municipal agriculture’s office before we will be accepted as members of the association,” she added.
Danlugan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (DFMPC) member Jenelyn Angao said in the agro-eco tourism fair (AETF), they were able to display their products such as vermicast, vermi tea, and dairy fresh milk.
Angao said 300 liters of dairy fresh milk and four (4) sacks of vermicast are being displayed at the AETF hoping that participants will buy their products.
Among those who attended the opening program were Department of Agriculture’s Assistant Secretary Edicio dela Torre, Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Soils and Water Management Technical Assistant to the Director Rodelio B. Carating, Chin-chin Gutierrez, celebrity and founding chair and president of Alaga LAHAT Foundation, Inc., farmer-leaders, etc.
