THE regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA 11) is set to organize the first Regional Organic Agriculture Congress (Roac) in Davao City in October as Davao Region is bent to convert at least five percent of its agricultural land for organic farming.
"This is one the measures undertaken by the region to strengthen our involvement in the advocacy and promotion of organic agriculture (OA), especially with our commitment in converting at least five percent of the agricultural area to organic," Remelyn R. Recoter, DA regional director said.
Such move, she said, is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 10068, also known as Organic Agriculture Act of 2010.
Winners in the Regional Organic Agriculture Achievers Award (ROAAA) and the Organic Product Exhibition will also be named during the congress.
In a letter to City Agriculturist Office (CAO) officer-in-charge (0IC) Rocelio T. Tabay, Recoter said the congress will be a gathering of major industry players, including farmer producers, operators of organic establishments, researchers, educators, policymakers and other industry enthusiasts.
"This will be an opportunity to learn more about and share related experiences, as well as drum up support sectors recognized for their social, environmental, and economic contribution," she added.
CAO's organic division program coordinator Joselito Tabora said in an interview that the city's awareness in OA and organic products is high, but farmers and consumers are still patronizing commercial agriculture.
"We are continuously conducting series of information drive, forums and trainings in the city to encourage farmers to go organic," he said.
Roacs's venue and date is still up for confirmation, but it is eyed to be held in the third week of October.
Meanwhile, organic marks will be implemented on products and companies claiming to be "organic certified" starting this year according to Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (Bafs).
"We are targeting that by September we can finalize and publish the department circular of the organic mark. After, that's the time that we will formally launch it," Mark F. Matubang, senior Science research specialist of the Bafs' registration section said adding that it will serve as the trademark on all the country's organic produce.
Furthermore, to provide an avenue for the organic farmers in the city, an Organic Trading Post worth P1.9 million will be opened this year at Palma Gil St., to serve as a consolidation point for all organic produced of the local farmers. (ASP)