The City Government of Davao, through the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAgrO), is aiming to expand the organic produce market in the city through its Organic Agriculture Program.
This, after the celebration of the Organic Month 2022 successfully concluded on November 25, proving the city’s potential of becomng the center of organic farming.
From this year’s Organic Month, eleven organic farmers– who displayed their produce at the Rizal Organic Market on Thursdays and Fridays -recorded a total gross sale of P257,631 for the entire November.
As part of the celebration, the CAGRO distributed 525 fruit tree seedlings, 1,445 vegetable seedlings and 300 kilograms of vermicompost to the public. The office also held trainings and seminars for farmers on sustainable farming.
Jeana Ablen, Senior Agriculturist and Focal Person of CAgrO’s Organic Agriculture Program, said the city aims to expand its organic farming market through various assistance and incentives to organic farmers and other organic practitioners, as mandated by Ordinance No. 0384-10 or the Organic Agriculture Ordinance of Davao City 2009.
“Kung identified ka na organic farmer ka, organic association ka, prioritized gyud mo sa mga government intervention like use of composting facility, technical training. Ang mga incentives sa inyohang grupo gyud ihatag para mapakusgan pa ang pag-produce ninyo og mga organic outputs (If you are an identified organic farmer or organic association, you will be priority recipient of government interventions such as the use of composting facility, technical training. The incentives for your group are given to strengthen your production of organic outputs),” Ablen said.
She added that the local government is pushing for organic farming as an ideal practice in growing food as this promotes healthier products that are not reliant on synthetic materials such as industrial fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides that can potentially cause health problems. Nutrition in the soil is also preserved with the use of natural fertilizers.
Unlike the monoculture practice promoted by industrial farming, Ablen said organic farming has a much more ecologically balanced approach that minimizes negative effects to the environment.
“Ang organic farming naga-promote siya og crop diversification, unlike sa monoculture practice, naga-encourage siya na magbuhi og hayop, magtanom og gulay, magtanom og prutas (Organic farming promotes crop diversification, unlike in monoculture practice, it encourages the farming of livestock, vegetables and fruits),” Ablen said.
Other than the benefits to the environment and people’s health, organic farming is also much cheaper. Since the practice uses natural materials to grow food, farmers are not affected by the rising prices of commercial fertilizers and other synthetic inputs to grow their crops.
Ablen assured farmers that the city government is always ready to support those who want to give organic farming a shot.
“Kadtong mga gusto mag organic farming, kung kulang mo sa kahanas, kung kinahanglan pa ninyo ang tabang, duol lang mo sa amoang opisina (Those who want to do organic farming, you can always come to us if you lack the expertise and if you need help),” Ablen said.
Ablen also urged Dabawenyos to try products from the Rizal Organic Market.
The CAgrO hopes to have at least five organic farmers who will form the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Davao’s Core Team to be certified by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) in February 2023. Once accredited, the PGS Davao will then become the certifying body for all organic farmers in Davao City to ensure their products follow the national standards of organic farming. CIO
