THIS year's Regional Organic Agriculture Congress is being hosted by Iloilo through the Provincial Agriculture Office.
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. led the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Trade Fair and Exhibit in Casa Real de Iloilo Tuesday, September 17. The exhibit will run until September 20.
Department of Agriculture-National Organic Agriculture Program (DA-NOAP) staff Julia Nicole Ann Garcia said the event is an avenue to promote organic agriculture, which remains an emerging industry.
"Through this event, we can increase people's awareness towards agricultural product as well as strengthen the relationship between organic farmers and stakeholders," she said.
The event was highlighted by discussion on new developments in organic agriculture and giving of awards to farmer groups outstanding focal persons in the provincial and municipal level. The Miagao Organic Black Rice Producers Association received the Outstanding Small Farmer Group award.
Garcia reported that for this year, Western Visayas is the top region to reach almost 90 percent of target area for organic farming.
"As of June 2019, Region 6 was able to convert 28,976.17 hectares into an organic agriculture area which is equivalent to 89.90 percent of their target," she said.
Iloilo Provincial Agriculture Office assistant head Elias Sandig said Iloilo has 6,800 hectares of organic farmland. He noted that the high certification fee, which starts from P150,000, hampers farmers to pursue organic farming.
The DA-NOAP extends assistance to farmers such as production support services (seed fertilizers, machineries and equipment), training support services, and irrigation network services. (PR)