BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental provincial government considers investing P16 million in a social-agricultural enterprise based in Bago City.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has authorized Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. to make such investment during a recent regular session.
The provincial government will invest in Family Farms, Inc. to provide facilities that will support the postharvest operations of organic farmers in Negros Occidental.
“Our investment will mainly go to postharvest facilities,” said Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino.
Masculino added that Family Farms already has the facilities for organic farming, including an organic rice mill.
Family Farms is equipped with appropriate machinery and technologies that adhere to organic production standards, he stressed.
“The province could eventually penetrate the global market as its investment in additional facilities would mean the production of more quality organic rice,” Masculino said.
Family Farms also introduces organic farming technology, assists those who want to go organic, facilitates organic certification, and buys and sells the produce of local organic farmers.
Masculino said the enterprise has an “end-to-end” activity – from production to sale.
Since Family Farms will take charge of their products, it would be easy to convince farmers to go organic, he added.
Currently, there are at least 17,000 organic adaptors – mostly small farmers – in Negros Occidental. (With a report from PNA/PN)
