Negros Occidental is Philippines only organic province

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Negros Occidental is still the only “organic province” in the country, according to Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, who was one of the national guests during the 12th National Organic Agriculture Congress and 10th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival events held in this city.

Puyat, who is also the alternate chair of the National Organic Agriculture Board, said she was “pleasantly surprised” to learn that Negros Occidental had exceeded its goal to convert 10,000 hectares into organic farmlands.

Currently, the province has 15,000 hectares of organic agriculture, and the Philippines ranks fourth in Asia in terms of organic agriculture, with 108,000 hectares devoted to organic farming, she said.

There were concerns however on the cost of organic production that results in very expensive products. But Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who was also a guest in the events, was optimistic that organic products will soon be more “affordable” to the consumers.

Alcala said the reason why organic products are expensive because the demand has been high but the supply is low. “If we go organic, the input on production is cheaper,” he said, and that farmers should understand that the inputs of going organic are cheaper.At the rate the country is going more organic, it will come soon that the prices of these products will go down, he said.

Puyat added that the more people are into organic, the cheaper its produce is, so the goal of the government is to have the earnings of the organic products go to the farmers and not the middle man. Another reason why organic products are expensive is because the organic certification is expensive. The government responded to this by subsidizing the farmers in shouldering the certification cost, she said.

Marañon said he met with Andre Leu, president of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement, who in turn promised to help the local farmers pass the accreditation from the international market, by complying  with certain standards and procedures.

The governor said, “we should encourage more farmers to go organic,” because there is bigger profit from it, as their production cost is lesser considering that they would no longer purchase expensive chemicals and fertilizers.

Presidential adviser on agriculture, former senator Francis Pangilinan, who was also a guest in the two events, described the organic movement in Negros as “trailblazing.” He said, “If you want to make a dent in addressing poverty, we should support the local government units in their agricultural advocacy.”

Marañon said the organic movement in the province has been growing. At least 200,000 hectares here have been devoted to sugarcane, but the province’s dependence on the sugar industry has been gradually weaned by organic agriculture although it will stay.

Organic agriculture has been growing by 20 percent, and with the demand of such product rising in the world market, it will soon give the province a bigger ground for progress, added the governor.  (FREEMAN)