THE DAVAO City Agriculturist’s Office (CAgrO) kicked off the celebration of the Organic Month 2022 on Thursday at the Rizal Park.
Mayor Sebastian Duterte, in his speech, said the city will continue to promote organic farming as this is a safer, healthier alternative to genetically modified organisms. It’s also much more ethical choice than industry farm products.
Duterte urged citizens to give organic farmers “a chance to compete and to expand their venture.”
Councilor Marissa Abella, Davao City Council Committee on Food and Agriculture chair, urged small organic farmers to form cooperatives. This way, they can be certified under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS).
The PGS will ensure better market conditions for farmers through access to knowledge and better stakeholder connections. But the system will also help expand the organic market as a whole.
She added that with more push, Davao City is poised to become “the future of organic farming.”
Following the opening ceremony, the CAgrO shared food made with organic produce. The office also distributed assorted vegetables, fruit seedlings, and organic fertilizers. On the same day, a demonstration of effective microorganism technology was also held in Gatungan, Bunawan.
A series of activities is slated for the rest of the month. This includes the distribution of vegetables, fruit seedlings, and information education campaign materials on organic farming for the remaining Thursdays and Fridays of the month.
On November 11, the CAgrO will conduct a school-based training on the establishment of an organic garden and an actual demonstration of organic shredding and vermicomposting setup at the Marfori Organic Garden and the Malagos Central Nursery.
On November 15-17, organic farmers will have a seminar on PGS at the World Palace. A separate organic gardening seminar and farm establishment demo will be conducted in Catalunan Grande on November 16.
On November 18, the CAgrO will be conducting training on the establishment of an organic container garden and a vermicomposting set-up field tour at the Marfori Organic Garden and the Malagos Central Nursery. An organic livestock and poultry raising seminar will also be conducted on the same day in Catalunan Grande.
Organizers will also hold discussions on sustainable organic farming practices and emerging technologies at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on the 23rd.
The culmination program for this year’s Organic Month will be on the 25th at the Rizal Park.
The opening ceremony was also attended by CAgrO Officer-in-Charge Edgardo Haspe, City Cooperative Development Office Head Luzminda Eblamo, other public officials and organic farmers.
