PARTICIPATING farmers have generated a total sales of P1.3 million during the just-concluded 14th Negros Island Organic Farmer’s Festival (NIOFF).

The festival's theme was "Organic is LIFE: Love, Integrity, Fairness and Ecology," the four-day activity was held at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Bacolod City until Saturday, November 23.

Dina Genzola, senior agriculturist of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), said the sales were generated by 85 individual farmers and associations.

The annual festival has really served as venue for organic farmers to earn as well as tap more potential markets, she added.

This year's organic festival included activities like talks and seminars on health benefits on organic food, pest management strategy in growing organic vegetables, biological farming technologies and control of pest on crops.

Also among the discussed topics were small holder group orientation on organic certification, organic inland fish culture, value chain on organic coconut production, organic rice production using heirloom varieties, and organic mushroom production, as well as demonstration on organic cooking.

Various competitions like on the spot poster making contest, organic quiz bee, organic and product olympic and organic cooking contest were also conducted.

Also, the provincial government recognized organic practitioners, focal person, local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders.

Genzola said aside from showcasing and promoting locally-produced organic and naturally-grown agricultural products, these activities are also geared towards enhancing the capability of the farmers in the island.

"The festival has empowered Negrense farmers as active partners of the provincial government in sustaining the status as the organic capital of the Philippines," she added.

There are currently over 18,000 hectares of agricultural land, including livestock, devoted to organic farming in Negros Occidental.

In terms of organic practitioners, the number is also pegged at about 18,000.

Genzola said the organic sector of the province remains strong and they look forward to more expansions.

Assuring the provincial government's support to the farmers, she said that agricultural competitiveness and food security is number one in the Abanse Negrense Development Agenda of the administration.

For his part, Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said the organic festival is now institutionalized in the consciousness of the Negrenses that it is the source of organic products and organic technology.

"Every year, new products are displayed which means that more producers are into organic farming and more people are visiting and buying organic products," he added.