DA exec urges farmers, planters to go organic

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala last week urged more farmers to go organic as the supply of naturally grown produce continued to fall short of demand.

“While the adoption of organic farming has improved significantly over the past few years, there is still too much demand and too little supply,” Alcala said.

This was mainly the reason why organic produce commands high prices, but he added that this should not be the motivation of farmers.

“Let’s go organic not because we can get high prices (for the products), but because this can lower our operating costs,” Alcala explained.

As a representative in Congress, Alcala was instrumental in the passage of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010.

The agriculture chief said organic farming is becoming more and more attractive for farmers.

“In the end, there are not enough organic farms and there is no concrete program (for this sector). That is what we want to change,” he said.

Even then, Alcala said, the area of farmland using the organic and natural system has grown by 185 percent to 17,700 hectares since 2007.

In 2007, Malacañang issued Executive Order No. 481, which pushes for the promotion and development of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

Last month, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Asia Pacific office in Thailand cited Myrna Conigo Asor for her achievements in organic farming, as well as the training she provides to fellow farmers and students of agriculture.