DA-10 pushes for stronger organic farms in Normin

NORTHERN Mindanao Agriculture department regional director Carlene Collado urged organic farmers to give attention to natural farming as means of livelihood and food security amid the coronavirus disease (COVID)–19 pandemic, said in an update Thursday. 

Earlier, the department held its 6th Organic Agriculture Month with the theme, “Sa Pagsasakang Organiko, ‘ANI at KITA’ ay sigurado, Kalusugan ay Garantisado.” 

“DA through the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) has strongly promoted organic agriculture,” said Collado adding that with a vision to contribute to the over-all agriculture growth and development of the country in terms of food sustainability and competitiveness.

Collado said reinforcing Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 and the National Organic Agriculture Program, the celebration strives to underscore mainstream organic agriculture practices in the entire region.

He said Northern Mindanao has 12,786.67 hectares of Organic Agriculture area, where-in the province of Misamis Occidental having the biggest land of 7,376 hectares, followed by Lanao del Norte (2,495.5 hectares), Misamis Oriental (2,053 hectares), Bukidnon (656.17 hectares), and Camiguin (52 hectares).

DA-10 hopes to further cultivate and utilize these areas towards a more cutthroat and sustainable organic agricultural landscape, according to Collado.

As of now, he said that Northern Mindanao has 3,058 organic practitioners and 4 organic certified farms that are the third party certified: the Tropical Harvest Farm, MOMs Happy Farm, the Potter’s Garden, and Alomah’s Place. 

Collado added there are 20 GAP certified farms in the region and four organic trading posts located in the municipalities of Kapatagan, Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte, Valencia City in Bukidnon, and Talisayan, Misamis Oriental.

“These efforts will lead towards a competitive and sustainable organic industry that contributes to a better farm income and sustainable livelihood, improved health, environment protection, disaster risk reduction and resilience to climate change and social justice,” Collado said. (Recthie Tolinero/VPSB/PIA10)