Strengthening organic agriculture

May 19, 2018 Ikit ng Bayan Opinion

The public demand on organic agriculture nowadays is the talk in the business world. Some establishments do not totally shift on selling organic products but having organic products in their stores is highly recommended by their clients. As we have noticed, the people are now cautious on their health and lifestyle that they usually go to restaurants serving vegetable salad and vegetable and fruit juices or shakes. More people are also going for vegetable and fruit products like noodles, pizza, cakes, breads and cookies.

According to R.A. 10068, otherwise known as “Organic Agriculture Act of 2010”, there really is a need to promote, propagate, develop, further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and minimize destruction of the environment, protect the health of the farmers, consumers and the general public. Meaning if you want to make it organic, the soil that was saturated with synthetic fertilizer needs to rest for a certain period of time in order for it to recover its original form and to make it nutritious and safe for farmers and consumers.

However, strengthening organic agriculture is tedious for some farmers in the province of Benguet who are used to the commercial or conventional way of production because the gain is faster and as the population becomes bigger, the demand is also increasing so the need to provide is a must. However, waiting for restoration of the soil will really take time. Shall we sacrifice the needs or the health of our fellow Filipino? It’s up to you iKit, anyway there is no harm in trying because you’ll never know this might be your chance to let your business grow.

Benguet Board Member Robert Namoro of the Committee on Agriculture said that “We shall engage these different government agencies who are concerned and are willing to help and support this advocacy. We are not pushing our farmers to shift their business into organic farming but we are to educate them via trainings and seminars what is organic agriculture and what are the benefits.” Namoro also added that there is existing market already for organic requesting for more production but Benguet farmers cannot sustain them because of lack of organic vegetable products. So the best thing to do is to encourage some of them especially those who are willing.

In Bible (KJV) Hebrew 11:1, “now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We all believe in Jesus Christ because even if we do not see him but by faith we believe in him. Pinoy always say “dyak kita, dyak pati” but how will you know if you are not interested to know? iKit, open minded ka ba? Then this is yours truly Tita Ara Katter of 98.7 ZRadio FM, a Sunday program, 10am to 1pm that always reminds you “Ti panagkaykaysa, mangiwanwan iti naranyag nga pagsayaatan”.