LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- With a degraded quality of soil in the Cordillera region, Agriculture Secretary William Dar urged farmers to apply organic inputs.
“Organic content of our soils now have gone down from 15-30 to 1-2%. We have to increase this organic matter for this microbial system can do their roles and enrich nutrients to our soil. I hope Benguet and the rest of provinces of Cordillera to take serious look in terms of embracing this technology,” added Dar during the 6th Regional Organic Agriculture Congress cum farmers’ forum at Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC).
Dar said soil health has been a major issue in the last 15 to 30 years, stressing the importance of applying organic inputs in vegetable farming in the Cordillera.
“Let us promote organic agriculture to where it must be, practical and realistic. Good agriculture practice is a major strategy to increase agriculture productivity and increase the income of farmers and fisherfolk. I highly urge farmers of Cordillera and the country to apply organic inputs,” he added.
During Friday’s organic congress, local chief executives in the Cordillera renewed their pledge of commitment to Republic Act 10068 known as the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010.
The National Organic Agriculture Board apprised Cordillera officials of the law recognizing the pivotal role of Local Government Units to adhere to RA 10068 and as front liners in the implementation of organic agricultural program in the municipalities.