NGOs: Organic farming key to food security

CEBU, Philippines - Various farmers’ associations and non-government organizations that are members of the Cebu Coalition for Food Security (CCFS) want to meet the new agriculture secretary to ask support in the implementation of organic farming in the province.

Farmers seek a replication of what Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has done in the province of Quezon back when he was a congressman.

Alcala has successfully promoted organic farming which resulted in almost 100 percent-shift from conventional use of artificial fertilizers and insecticides to the use of organic products in farming.

Bobby Bajenting, former provincial agrarian officer who is now with CCFS, said that they see organic farming as the key to attain sustainable agriculture that will lead to food security in the province.

Organic farming not only reduces investments without affecting the volume of production, but it also makes sure that products are free from synthetic interference which brings to the maximum the nutritional value of the products.

Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez of the Pagtambayayong in Cebu City said that Alcala will be here on August 20 to meet with the group.

The sustainable farming system that has been successful in Quezon could be replicated here if they will have the support of the government in training farmer-technicians, educating not only farmers but also consumers in the importance of organic farming and preserving the existing prime agricultural lands.

Bajenting said that the conversion of agricultural lands to private subdivisions or other non-agricultural developments are increasing, and is worsening the threat to Cebu’s food security.

In Bogo, for example, Jovie Cadungog of Alcala’s transition team said that hectares of lots are planned to be converted to a Jatropa plantation.

Cadungog said that they do not see the production of Jatropa as consistent with the thrust of the government to ensure food security because the land that is to converted used to be planted with corn and sugarcane.

Bajenting said that they fear that a large portion of agricultural land will suffer if the plan pushes through. This is because a Jatropa plantation needs at least 5,000 hectares of space to be feasible. Jatropa will be used to produce biofuel. (THE FREEMAN)