CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Department of Agriculture (DA)–10 held its 6th Organic Agriculture Month with the theme, “Sa Pagsasakang Organiko, ‘ANI at KITA’ ay sigurado, Kalusugan ay Garantisado” in the midst of the coronavirus disease (COVID)–19 pandemic to revitalize and give attention to natural farming as means of livelihood and food security.
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.“DA through the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP) has strongly promoted organic agriculture with a vision to contribute to the over-all agriculture growth and development of the country in terms of sustainability, competitiveness and food security,” said DA-10 Regional Director Carlene C. Collado during the Talakayan sa PIA, November 18.
With Northern Mindanao having 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), the DA-10 hopes to further cultivate and utilize these areas towards a more cutthroat and sustainable organic agricultural landscape.
As of now, Collado shared that Northern Mindanao has 3,058 organic practitioners and 4 organic certified farms that are third party certified: the Tropical Harvest Farm, MOMs Happy Farm, the Potter’s Garden and Alomah’s Place.
He said 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 in 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. (VPSB/PIA10)
