The practice of organic agriculture can spur further business opportunities particularly in Negros Occidental which has already declared a ban on genetically modified organisms, an organic farming consultant said.

We can look at other opportunities so it's not a losing proposition to engage in organic farming, Patrick Belisario, executive director of Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation Inc., said.

Major GMO bans under the provincial ordinance include entry of living GMOs and experimentation and/or field testing related to it, planting or growing, and selling or trading of living GMOs which are considered toxic to humans and animals.

Belisario said Negros Occidental has the advantage in promoting organic farming because it has government support while other provinces have donor support only. "You can't find this support in other provinces (so) there's an opportunity side to this," he said.

Belisario said that among the prospective enterprises related to organic farming is the production of organic seeds and pesticides.

Even small farmers can make a business out of organic farming through the Go Organic Franchise introduced by NISARD which enables them pool their land to form an economic and engage in training, crop production, certification and monitoring.

According to NISARD, organic produce is now an established sector of the global food market and demand is increasing by an average of 20 percent every year.

Certified organic produce also commands a price increase of up to an average of 40 percent more than non-certified produce, it added.

The Province of Negros Occidental has already provided a space for organic farmers behind the Capitol building in Bacolod City where they can sell their organic produce. Belisario said farmers who want their agriculture products certified as organic can contact the NISARD office located at the second floor of the Capitol building.*NLG

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