ILOILO – This year’s Regional Organic Agriculture Congress is being hosted by Iloilo province through the Provincial Agriculture Office.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Trade Fair and Exhibit in Casa Real de Iloilo yesterday. The exhibit will run until Sept. 20.
Department of Agriculture-National Organic Agriculture Program (DA-NOAP) staff Julia Nicole Ann Garcia said the event is an avenue to promote organic agriculture, an emerging industry.
“Through this event, we can increase people’s awareness towards agricultural products as well as strengthen the relationship between organic farmers and stakeholders,” she said.
The event was highlighted by the discussion on new developments in organic agriculture and giving of awards to farmer groups and outstanding focal persons in the provincial and municipal level.
The Miag-ao Organic Black Rice Producers Association received the Outstanding Small Farmer Group award.
Garcia reported that for this year, Western Visayas is the top region to reach almost 90 percent of target area for organic farming.
“As of June 2019, Region 6 was able to convert 28,976.17 hectares into an organic agriculture area which is equivalent to 89.90 percent of their target,” she said.
Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office assistant head Elias Sandig said Iloilo has 6,800 hectares of organic farmland. He noted, however, that the high certification fee which starts from P150,000 hampers farmers from pursuing organic farming.
DA-NOAP extends assistance to farmers such as production support services (seed fertilizers, machineries and equipment); training support services; and irrigation network services. (LHC, Capitol News/PN)
