Boosting Support for Organic Farming

Fertilizers are major inputs for agricultural productivity. The use of petroleum-based chemical fertilizers has however, increased farm production costs and reduced farmers' income. Organic farming is now being promoted by the government to improve farm profitability as well as protect the environment.

Republic Act 10068, the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, recognizes the urgency of shifting to a sustainable organic and ecological agriculture model to increase rice production and productivity, boosts farmers' income, promote better health for farmers and enrich soil fertility. The government has proposed P972.2 million in the Department of Agriculture budget for 2012 to boost support for organic farming.

Research comparing three rice-production schemes – rice intensification, farmers' practice and balance fertilization – showed that sustainable organic practices are feasible and profitable when farmers produce their own organic fertilizers and botanical sprays.

In Pangasinan, the local governments of Alaminos City, Bani, Burgos, and Dasol launched Organikong Palayan-Pangasinan to encourage more farmers to shift to a sustainable organic and ecological agricultural model. Small farm holders are trained to produce their own organic fertilizer. Philippine Rice Research Institute soil experts recommend applying farm wastes such as rice straw, animal manure, and kitchen wastes. Mud taken from Pasig River and Laguna Lake can be used as mixture component for vermicast. Farmers in lakeshore communities use water hyacinths. Garbage from Smokey Mountain is made into organic fertilizers. The Bureau of Soils and Water management taps 4.6 million metric tons of rice hull waste. The Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine School of Technology in Davao del Sur makes low-cost organic fertilizer from seaweeds. The use of Masinag liquid organic fertilizer has gained headway after field tests showed that it could raise palay output by 35 percent. Bokashi, a cheap organic fertilizer, is made mostly from sugar milling by products.

As government steps up efforts to promote organic farming, Filipino farmers will benefit the most, because it would mean increased income, better health, and better environment for them and their families.

Source: Manila Bulletin - Nov. 4, 2011