The advocates of organic agriculture among Asian Nations were gathered to share and exchange best practices in organic agriculture development through the 3rd Organic Asia Congress (OAC) last September 19-21.
This year, the Local Government Unit of Bislig City, Surigao del Sur in coordination with the Department of Agriculture-Caraga hosted the said event with the theme ” One Big Family for Innovations and Sustainability”.
The OAC is an annual event organized by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements in Asia (IFOAM Asia). It is a gathering that brings forth the representatives from the governments of 22 countries in Asia together with the organic stakeholders that discussed the major trends in organic agriculture and the ways to move the sector forward.
“Organic agriculture is a very effective way to compete against the global problems and challenges. This congress promotes tighter linkage between government and private sectors, NGO’s, institutions and all stakeholders involving organic agriculture to foster the principle of fairness, health, ecology, and care,” said Zhou Zejiang, President of IFOAM Asia.
There are already more than 1.5 million organic farmers in Asia and 166,000 of these producers are from the Philippines. With these, around 2,908 practitioners are from Caraga.
The Philippine government through the DA continues to further promote, propagate and pursue policies in support to the farmers and various organic agriculture stakeholders.
According to Christopher Morales, the National Coordinator of the National Organic Agriculture Program, around 400,000 hectares are now utilized for organic farming as of June this year, or about 80% of the program target of 501,000 hectares from 2017 – 2023.
Further, he said that around 100,800 practitioners are now producing organic products that reached 141 market destinations locally and abroad.
In order to sustain its market produce, the program established 85 organic trading post (OTP) across the different regions through the local government units. Monitoring activities were also conducted to generate information which is essential in resolving
issues and concerns relative to the operation and establishments of the OTPs, Morales added.
“The DA acknowledge the unending support and efforts of Bislig City with their vision of becoming a model city for organic agriculture by 2020 serving as an inspiration and encouragement for other municipality and city across the country to also engage in organic farming,” said Morales.
The active involvement of the Local Government Unit of Bislig City pursuing to be an organic city was recognized by the IFOAM Asia. In which the City Organic Agriculture & Fisheries Complex was designated as Organic Education and Social Innovations Institute of IFOAM Asia and also a Scholarship Grant to the Stand Alone Senior High School in Tambuang, Brgy. Comawas, Bislig City during the 3rd Organic Asia Congress closing ceremonies. (Rhea C. Abao, DA- Caraga, Information Section)
