Leyte backs, promotes organic farming
Tacloban City, Leyte – Forty nine farmers from two Leyte towns who are beneficiaries of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) programs are now practicing organic vegetable farming and producing organic vegetables.Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla yesterday said that his office is pushing for the growth of organic farming due to the high demand for organically grown and produced vegetables and high value crops.
Petilla informed reporters that 49 farmers who are DAR program beneficiaries from Tolosa and Inopacan towns are now actively producing and selling organic vegetables.
Petilla said that his office is promoting and conducting trainings on organic growing and production of vegetables and other crops.
Petilla pointed out that organic farming is environment-friendly and uses no harmful chemicals and pesticides which are sought after by health-conscious clients.
He added that the farmers save and incur lower production costs because they are not using expensive farm inputs like the commercial fertilizers and pesticides.
“The farmers earn better income considering the fact that organic vegetables command better prices compared to the vegetables produced using commercial farm inputs,” he said.
Regional Director Sheila Enciso of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) disclosed that her office, supported by East West Seeds Company, conducted the training program for the farmers from Inopacan and Tolosa under the Agricultural Enterprise Development component of the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP-II).
Enciso said that the participants of the said training were members of the Hinabay Upland Farmers Association and the Cabulisan Multi-Purpose Upland Farmers Association.
Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/leyte-backs-promotes-organic-farming/
