BACOLOR -- Some farmers here have scrapped conventional farming, citing that it is not only dangerous for human consumption due to chemical fertilizers, but is also costly to maintain.
With growing awareness about the different processes of organic farming, the town of Bacolor, particularly in Barangay Sta. Barbara, became interested in using vermicomposting.
Vermicomposting is a method of composting using earthworms to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing organic wastes, bedding materials, and vermicast.
“The earthworms convert the organic wastes like banana peels, apple cores and vegetable peels into rich compost. It is an enhanced and faster process of breaking down organic matters,” said municipal agriculturist Nestor Pineda.
Amidst the declining natural farming practices in the province of Pampanga, Bacolor farmers said they now prefer vermicomposting after learning that it has several environmental, health, economic, and educational benefits.
“Vermicomposting is definitely cheaper compared to chemical and other inorganic fertilizers. The products also tend to have longer shelf life,” shared farm-owner Emmanuel Alfonso adding that the large-scale vermicomposting only costs around P2,000 to P3,000 a month to produce effective and efficient fertilizers.
For his part, Alfonso, who is also an organic farming advocate in Pampanga, encouraged both small-scale and large-scale farmers to capitalize on organic farming because it can minimize the costs of production.
“Farmers must also learn how to bring down their production costs in order to gain bigger income. Vermicomposting is also very easy to learn,” urged Alfonso.
This organic farming method is also popular in other countries such as Japan, Canada, and the United States due to its waste reduction benefits.
“The decomposition process has been faster. Previously, we had to wait for at least a month but now it only takes a week. The bubbles indicate the micro-organism activity while the floating materials can be used as feeds for the earthworms,” explained farmer Pablo Cabigting.
Meanwhile, the local government also hopes to fully implement the Philippine Organic Agricultural Act or RA 10068, which declares it a policy of the state to “promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture.”
“Organic farming should be widely practiced because it may potentially solve our problems on solid waste management, environmental protection, and food security,” said Pineda.