The Department of Agriculture National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) said today the Philippines now ranks fourth among the leading Asian countries in terms of land devoted to organic agriculture.
“From the initial baseline data of 14,140 hectares in 2006, the NOAP was able to devote an estimated area of 101,278 hectares to organic farming system according to the IFOAM 2015 report. With this development, the Philippines now rank as the 4th leading organic country in Asia,” said Undersecretary for Special Concerns Ms. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in her message at the opening ceremonies of the celebration of organic agriculture month delivered by Elsa Parot of the NOAP.
According to Romulo-Puyat, since the inception of the program in 2012, the Department has been actively promoting the adaption of organic farming in the country.
She added, it is undeniable that more farmers are now shifting to organic farming and more consumers now prefer organic products.
President Benigno Aquino III has declared the month of November of every year as the Organic Agriculture Month thru Presidential Proclamation No. 1030, enjoining everyone to provide national focus on the importance of organic agriculture.
In support of this proclamation, the regional offices of DA will be conducting activities that promote organic agriculture such as organic trade fairs, regional organic congresses, and a series of school on the air programs about organic farming.
Likewise, the Department of Education will spearhead a national poster making and essay writing contest to highlight the importance of organic agriculture.
The celebration of Organic Agriculture Month will culminate in the 12th National Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC) in Bacolod City on November 25-27, 2015.
The NOAP will concurrently also honor the top performers in organic agriculture through the National Organic Agriculture Achievers’ Awards.
“Major industry players will gather including farmer producers/practitioners, operators of organic establishments, researchers, educators, policy makers and other industry enthusiasts. This will be an opportunity to learn more about organic agriculture and share related experiences,” Romulo-Puyat said.
This year’s NOAC, with the theme “Halin Talamnan Tubtob Kalan-an” or “Farm to Table,” focuses on the importance of understanding the organic agriculture supply chain and helping our organic farmers build linkages with the consumers.
Agriculture Secretary Processo J. Alcala, authored the Organic Act of 2010, a law which promotes the development and promotion of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines.
The law intends to promote, propagate, develop, and further implement the practice of organic agriculture in the country to improve soil fertility, increase farm productivity, reduce farm-source pollution, further protect the health of the farmers, consumers, and the general public, as well as save on imported farm inputs. # Source - (Ian Go, DA-OSEC)/www.da.gov.ph
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