Thursday, September 1, 2011
ALTHOUGH production of organic food is perceived as expensive, local organizations are hoping to promote the organic way of farming and change the perception.
Samson Tiu, chairman of the committee on programs and exhibits of the Cebu Going Organic fair and conference, said the expense is in acquiring certification that the produce is organic.
And while it takes longer to harvest organically-grown produce than those aided by inorganic fertilizer, he said the yield is bigger and the produce lasts longer.
Roberto Bajenting, chairman of the Cebu Coalition for Food Security, added that many do not consider Cebu as an area for natural farming, as the terrain of Cebu is mostly mountainous.
However, he said planting vegetables and fruits does not require hectares of land.
“You can do a lot in a small area.”
The group hopes to encourage more farmers to go organic and orient them on how to go about a group certification to meet international standards but to do it cheaper and easier.
A certification is required by high-end consumers, such as members of the Hotels Restaurants and Resorts Association of Cebu, and some supermarkets who want to offer organic produce.
Currently, organic produce has to be sourced from outside the province. A survey is currently being conducted to determine the demand for organic products.
Mario Panganiban, chairman of the commitee on ways and means of Cebu Going Organic, said the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has taken an interest in organic farming because they want to promote agriculture as an alternative business, especially in planting high-value crops.
He noted that the average age of farmers in the country is 55 years old, with the younger generation preferring to move to the city to work instead of toiling in the fields.
At the same time, Panganiban said they hope to change the Filipino’s diet of rice and meat, saying vegetables and fruits are largely forgotten. In other countries like Vietnam, India and China, Panganiban said, their people are able to work harder because they are stronger, with thr kind of food they eat.
He added that organic food should not just be for the rich, as the poor who consume it will be healthier and have less ailments.
The Cebu Going Organic Fair and Conference this October hopes to drum up public awareness, provide a knowledge-sharing platform, advocate the formulation of an accredited body that would certify to the standards of the produce. The conference also aims to introduce business viability and supply chain and consumer benefits.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 02, 2011.
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