TOTAL sales generated by 315 exhibitors during the 11th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival (NIOFF) increased to P5.61 million, a report released by the Negros Occidental Provincial Government Monday showed.
The figure is 34 percent higher than last year's sales of about P4.18 million.
In terms of actual sales, the five-day festival has generated a total of almost P3.1 million only. However, total sales were pushed upward by bookings and orders, mainly in farm machineries and other inputs, amounting to P2.51 million.
The highest income was generated from processed products, P1.02 million. It was followed by stalls selling organic food - P827,366; and processed products - P606,581.
Farmer-producers of herbs and other organic plants earned P273,059; farm inputs - P81,099; rice - P16,305; animals - P16,305; machineries - P13,921; and other products - P216,824.
In 2015, the festival was participated by only 305 exhibitors with products limited to food, plants, fresh and processed products.
Themed "Getting Connected Through Regenerative Organic Agriculture," this year's organic festival was held at the Negros First Cyber Centre grounds here from November 15 to 19.
Joyce Wendam, regional executive director of the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR), said Monday the increase in sales is an indication that the local organic industry continues to grow.
To sustain the gains, Wendam said Negrense farmers and producers need to expand their reach by developing more market niches for organic products.
"We will further work on crafting more strategies to motivate our farmers to produce more, and for our consumers to consume more organic products," she added. (PNA)