Agri office starts demo on eco-friendly farming

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now starting the "techno demo" to show the importance of eco-friendly farming with the use of organic fertilizer and hybrid seeds.

DA Regional Director Redentor Gatus said that since it really shows that rice farming is profitable with the use of hybrid rice that yields much higher than the traditional or inbred rice varieties, it is also cost-efficient and works well with organic fertilizer that is not harmful to the environment.

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"The government needs to strengthen its commitment to render social and environmental justice by reversing the destruction caused by excessive use of chemicals to produce food and this is what we are doing at DA right now," Gatus said.

This only shows that with all the stakeholders participating, an increase in farmer's income and rice self-sufficiency can be achieved, Gatus added.

He also said that industrial agriculture or factory farming accounts for much of the depletion of natural resources and pollution of the environment. By strengthening its commitment to sustainable agriculture, particularly through organic farming, the government is strongly committing to the global campaign against global warming and climate change.

Gatus also said that the DA has completed a series of consultation and awareness building on climate change with the DA extensions throughout the region. The agency is investing in core infrastructure to help agriculture adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

The infrastructure investments in the agricultural sector are focused on five concerns namely, rehabilitation of irrigation systems and municipal fish ports; construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs); ensuring of funds for loans to farmers and fisherfolk; and increased budget allocations for extension services and research and development.

Gatus added that the DA in Cetral Luzon has just conducted the farmer graduation for several universities on the air courses, in line with the thrust to continue educating the farmers on modern farming technologies.

He said that under the Aquino administration, the priority of the DA will not only be to further raise yields to ensure food security and sufficiency but also to raise the income of farmers, fisherfolk, and other agricultural stakeholders. (Ian Ocampo Flora)