Organic farming can turn farmers into agripreneurs

MANILA, Philippines - Pangasinan fourth district Rep. Christopher De Venecia is urging farmers in Dagupan to produce healthy food and earn extra income through organic farming.

De Venecia wants farmers to open their fields to tourists who want to learn from them  and appreciate their labor.

He also encouraged farmers to consider planting dragon fruits, cacao, ylang-ylang and soya beans to boost their income and help hasten the growth of agro-tourism .

De Venecia said farmers should not rely only on their incomes from their products, but also take on the benefits that will be derived from farm tourism if their farm becomes a demonstration farm.

To showcase organic farming, De Venecia led newsmen to a model farm in San Fabian planted with dragon fruits and in-between them were cacao plants.

While he noted that there is also a big potential in organic farming in San Jacinto, Mangaldan and Manaoag which are under his district, he said the focus on San Fabian would help increase the organic yield which is still well below the line,” De Venecia said.

De Venecia is organizing organic farmers in San Fabian into an association and pledged to invite experts to their place to teach them not only about vermiculture  but also in preparing healthy foods for fowls, goats, cattle and carabaos.

He said he would soon bring experts to San Fabian to teach vermiculture to farmers so they can learn to produce their own organic fertilizer.

De Venecia said the farmers’ association in San Fabian  could be developed into a modern farm to showcase modern farm practices  to fellow farmers and students who may be visiting soon.

Organic farming requires a change of mindset and farmers who are into this must be willing to work harder, knowing that the products they  would soon be raising and harvesting  are of higher quality and good for the health, unlike the usual chemical farming, he said.

De Venecia said he is set to establish a demo farm in San Fabian with the help of the Department of Agriculture to showcase organic farming and produce seedlings for the farmers.

While waiting will be longer in organic farming  compared to the usual chemical-based fertilizers, “the results will definitely be better”, he said

In organic farming, one can enrich the fertility of the soil instead of abusing it over and over again,” he added.

He  wants to duplicate the efforts of Pangasinan second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil who promotes the planting  of ylang-ylang in Mangatarem and Aguilar for their extracts that can be made into expensive perfume.