DESPITE the challenges in organic agriculture, number of organic practitioners has been remarkably increasing. These organic agriculture practitioners and advocates have organized themselves into groups with the aim of promoting Organic Agriculture as a sustainable farming system. These farmers’ organizations are also called as smallholder groups. With that common goal of promoting organic farming, these smallholder groups play a vital role in the development of organic agriculture locally and in the whole country.
In 2014, a total of 50 farmers’ organizations devoted to organic agriculture have evolved. Out of these 50 OA farmers’ associations, 45 are engaged in organic vegetable production and only five are engaged into organic livestock/ poultry production. In terms of number, Municipality of La Trinidad is the highest with 10 OA farmers groups and also hosts the regional organic group named Latop MPC (La Trinidad Organic Practitioners Multi-Purpose Cooperative). Next to La Trinidad is the municipality of Kibungan having farmers’ organizations which are mostly engaged in organic coffee production. Meanwhile, municipality of Sablan has not identified any farmers’ organization devoted to organic; they are still planning to form a group this third quarter of 2014 as stated by the respondents interviewed.
The total number of organic practitioners is composed of those members of OA farmers’ organization and the independent individuals who are not a member of any OA farmers’ association. In Benguet, a total of 3,326 individual organic practitioners were recorded as of the time of the visit. The total includes individuals engaged in organic vegetable, heirloom rice, coffee and organic livestock/ poultry production. From the 3,326 total organic practitioners, 3310 are members of the 50 identified farmers’ organizations devoted to organic agriculture in the province. Apart from the members of the OA farmers’ organizations, there were also 16 individual organic practitioners who are independent and are not a member of any OA farmers’ organization within their locality.
In the aspect of organic certification, out of 50 farmers’ organization in Benguet, only Latop MPC was certified by OCCP (Organic Certification Center of the Philippines). From the 3,326 organic practitioners, most of these certified by certifying bodies (OCCP and Nicert) are members of Latop MPC. As of the time of visit, OA focal person of La Trinidad MAO mentioned that out of the 170 members of Latop MPC, there were 20 members who were already certified by OCCP and 70 more members with on- process certification. Furthermore, one independent practitioner from the municipality of Bakun was also certified by Nicert (Negros Island Certification Services).
With the increased popularity and media attention upon organics and health consciousness among consumers, practitioners have been growing in number. Further, the result of the study is being updated. Similar to Mt. Province, Apayao and Kalinga the data are still being tabulated. (Cordillera Organic Agriculture Research & Development Center/Benguet State University)