ZAMBOANGA City agriculturist Diosdado Palacat has encouraged local farmers to venture into organic farming to produce healthy foods for the public.

Palacat said organic farm produce is good for the health since it’s pesticide-free.

Organic farming is also good for the environment since it revives the soil fertility.

Palacat said that so far there are already around 100 farmers who are engaged in purely organic farming.

He said these organic farmers are from the villages of Bolong, Culianan, La Paz and Vitali, who grow vegetables, rice and fruit-bearing trees.

He said his office is providing technical assistance to farmers who shift to organic farming.

Organic farming is a system of agriculture that uses natural inputs instead of chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.