The aim of the Occidental and Oriental provincial governments in Negros is to have 10 percent of the Island's agricultural land certified as organic by 2010 and the process has already began.

Gov. Joseph Marañon and Vice Gov. Isidro Zayco of Occidental, and Gov. George Arnaiz and Vice Gov. Jose Baldado of Oriental, along with Richard Hughes, managing trustee of their joint venture - the Negros Island Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Foundation - met at the house of businessman Ricardo Yanson in Bacolod City Sunday where they discussed their thrust towards developing Negros Island as one.

We have not attained the status of becoming a one-island region but we have been working on common projects beneficial to the island, Arnaiz said.

Arnaiz cited roads and bridges interconnecting both provinces, education, health projects, tourism efforts and the joint organic farming venture.

Marañon said 1,200 heads of cattle, jointly imported by the Occidental and Oriental provinces from Australia, are arriving in Negros Occidental in late May and they will be raised organically. The cattle will also help the farmers produce their own organic fertilizer, Hughes said. We are focusing on organic food production for Negros because it is sustainable, good for the health and the environment, helps rural development, it suits the consumer driven market and Negrenses are into farming, Hughes said.

This program is designed to ensure food security for the island and then go for exports, Hughes said.

Both provinces will be producing organic sugar, rice and vegetables, and fruits, Hughes said. We will set up model farms all over the island so the farmers can see how they can go organic, he added.

The governors are also supporting the creation of the first agri-business export processing zone, Hughes said. Marañon said "We keep saying we should diversify, it is about time we should start doing it."

"I would like to leave a legacy wherein in the future Negros Island will be know for its organic production," he said.*CPG

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