Zubiri bats for organic farming

Cebu - Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said the national government through the Department of Agriculture should focus on the implementation of programs that encouraged farmers to shift to organic farming.

During his visit to Borbon town yesterday, Zubiri said that the success of the small farmers in the area using organic farming should also be adopted by other local government units.

The senator was in town to witness the Sinulog Festival and to attend the launching of the “Balik Borbon sa Silmugi.”

Zubiri claimed he is also a farmer and he was convinced on the need for small farmers to shift to organic farming. With this, he added that the DA should give importance on the success of the program.

According to him, the DA should properly inform the farmers about the pros and cons of adopting the organic farming and urged the LGUs to also do their share by helping agency.

The municipal government of Borbon hopes to implement the organic farming program in its 19 barangays in response to the challenge that was earlier made by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

During her visit to Borbon earlier, the governor was informed that the town was the first LGU to implement the program that started last year. She was impressed by the vegetables and other agricultural products of the town that were produced through organic farming.

Garcia said she hopes that other municipalities in the province will also adopt the initiative of Borbon.

The municipal government hired the services of Salvio Makinano of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)-Pilipinas to train farmers on organic farming. He taught farmers the difference between using commercial and organic fertilizers.

Organic farming, according to Makinano, can be economically viable for the farmer, healthy for consumer and friendly to the environment.

Municipal councilor Mardonio “Titing” Mangubat, chairman of the council committee on agriculture, said the implementation of the organic program is in line with the thrust and program of the DA that it will no longer continue to give fertilizer subsidy to farmers and instead realign its funds from capacity building programs to organic farming.

Town farmers said they noticed a big difference in their income after they shifted to organic farming. — Jose P. Sollano/WAB (THE FREEMAN)