Organic Agriculture Potential In Dueñas

Organic Agriculture 

Potential In Dueñas

Mayor Ramona Palabrica-Go receives one million cash as the 2014 Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards Outstanding Municipality during the awarding ceremony at Resorts World Manila recently. Photo shows standing from left are: Assistant Secretary Edilberto de Luna, DA 6 Regional Technical Director Manuel O. Olanday, Mayor Palabrica-Go, UnderSecretary Antonio Fleta, Agricultural Technicians Nezza Villalobos and Rodney Benjamin and Under Secretary Emerson U. Palad (James Earl E. Ogatis photo)

Mayor Mamerto Pelopero mentioned the potentials of Dueñas as one of the centers for organic farming during the town’s 2nd Farmers Week Celebration, May 6.

With the theme “Organiko nga Pagpanguma ang tadlong nga dalan Padulong sa Kauswagan sang banwa.” The celebration focused on organic agriculture, as his municipality wants to venture on organic farming. Mayor Pelopero calls for oneness, cooperation and support among farmers and stakeholders in order to achieve their goal in promoting organic agriculture. He assured a continued support, assistance and more projects in agriculture in order to continually improve their agricultural industry.

Dueñas is an agricultural community, wherein 86 percent of its total land area is soley devoted to agriculture. Its important crops include sugarcane, corn and banana. Hence, agriculture has a big contribution to the growing economy of the municipality.

“Organic agriculture is a new direction or venue to improve our agricultural economy while living in harmony with nature,” said Dr. Ildefonso Toledo, Provincial Agriculturist of Iloilo. He emphasized that if farmers really want to push for organic agriculture, they need to be honest about it and observe the protocols set.

“Organically grown products have bigger market value compared to the conventionally grown crops. This idea attracts more farmers to convert their farms into organic areas. Market for the organically grown crops is no longer a problem but the challenge is on how to sustain the supply of the said products. The demand for organic goods continues to increase and the supply needs to cope with this constant upturn,” he added.

On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture RFO 6 Public Relations Officer James Earl Ogatis reiterated the interventions and assistance given by the DA to the farmers. He emphasized the importance of preparing proposals for interested farmers/farmers’ organization who want to avail projects from DA especially in organic agriculture.

A total of 39 Farmers’ Organization participated in the Farmers’ Week Celebration whom Municipal Agriculturist Danilo Penpillo thanks for attending in the week-long celebration. He hoped for a more progressive agricultural industry for the municipality of Dueñas.  /MP