Officials of Negros Occidental and Oriental Negros affirmed their pledge to make Negros the “organic bowl of Asia” as they jointly opened the 3rd Negros Island Organic Farming Festival at the Panaad Park and Stadium yesterday.

Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco confirmed the participation of the province in the 16th International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements World Congress in June in Modena, Italy.

During the event, the province will also bid for the hosting of the IFOAM Congress in 2011.    

“That’s how serious we are in pushing organic farming,” he said.

Oriental Negros Provincial Agriculturist George Paltinca, who represented Gov. Emilio Macias II, said their province is also making a headway in organic agriculture.

“We now have more displays than two years ago,” he said, adding that the organic farming festival is a chance for them to showcase what their province has done in line with the program of the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation.

At the display area, Oriental Negros has organic food products from Dumaguete and Bayawan, among others.

Sagay City Councilor Kent Javelosa, who was the keynote speaker, said that as an organic farming practitioner, he has experienced excellent results and urged other farmers to give it a try.

“My expenses went down (but) my yield was maintained,” he said.

Javelosa said that with dangers posed by chemical fertilizers, organic farming is the answer and refuge of farmers.

Dr. Uwe Scholz, adviser of the GTZ-EnRD Program, discussed the certification requirements for the organic aquaculture products of Negros Occidental while Armigenia Benedicto, organic agriculture coordinator, said more foreign tourists are expected to visit Negros once its organic practices are already in place.

ORGANIC BOOTH CONTEST

For this year’s festival, various towns and cities are participating in the organic booth contest including San Enrique, La Castellana, Manapla, Hinigaran, Cauayan, Moises Padilla, Silay, Kabankalan, Escalante, Bago and San Carlos.

The winners will be announced during the closing rites of the four-day festival on April 30.*NLG

back to top