By Erwin Nicavera – PNA News
BACOLOD CITY — The four-day 13th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival started on Wednesday in a continuing bid of the Negrenses for a green island through organic agriculture.
Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said there is a need to further maximize the island’s potential to further develop the organic farming industry.
In Negros Occidental alone, there are at least 17,000 organic practitioners with about 16,000 hectares devoted to organic farming.
“We remain strong as the country’s organic leader though there are still many other areas for development,” Masculino added.
This year’s festival, themed “Organic Agriculture: The Greening of Negros Island,” is being held at the Capitol grounds here until Saturday.
Masculino said that greening Negros means going for healthier people, environment, and economy.
Through organic practices, the health of the people is secured as the food products they consume are free of chemicals, he added.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist has been campaigning for stronger organic farming practice which provides a bigger opportunity for local farmers to increase their income.
Masculino said improving the productivity and profitability of farmers could contribute to reducing poverty.
He added the government should lead the implementation of measures and initiatives to develop the industry, like the provision of subsidy to farmers.
“There is still a growing market for organic products, but we also want to make it affordable and accessible to the public by mainly increasing the production,” Masculino said.
Other activities during the organic farmers’ festival include the awarding of organic practitioners, focal persons, local government units and stakeholders, ceremonial turnover of equipment, lectures, trainings and seminars, and food olympics.
Also included are exhibits of organic products and by-products, sustainable innovations and technologies practiced by organic farmer-producers and advocates in the island.
