22 farmers now
certified organic vegetable producers
By JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
April 7, 2016
INOPACAN, Leyte –
Twenty-two farmers from two highland barangays of this town are now
certified organic vegetable producers after completing the five months
training on High Value Vegetable Production Using Technology on
Natural Farming System last month.
Regional Director Sheila
Enciso of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) disclosed that her
office tapped the East-West Seed Company for the conduct of the said
training under the Agricultural Enterprise Development component of
the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP-II).
Participants of the said
training were members of the Hinabay Upland Farmers Association (HUFA)
and the Cabulisan Multi-Purpose Upland Farmers Association (CAMUFA),
who all expressed happiness for having been trained on organic
vegetable production.
According to Edelito Merano
Sr., 51, though organic farming is more tedious than the traditional
way of growing vegetables which uses hazardous chemicals, the former
is environment-friendly and the products are good for our health.
In organic farming, Merano
added, they also can save more for they no longer use pesticides and
expensive fertilizers.
The farmers instead used the
vermicast produced by the CAMAFU sold at P350 per sack of 50 kilos
only.
Merchant Cristeta Abenoja
disclosed that there are more buyers of organic vegetables than those
grown the traditional way.
Her vegetables from
barangays Hinabay and Cabulisan are easily sold out for consumers
already know that products from these villages are grown organically,
said Abenoja.
Various organic vegetables
abounded during the farmers’ graduation for it coincided with the
harvest festival.