Mindoro’s small farmers go organic

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro: Aware of the threat of climate change to the region’s food supply, local growers in the two provinces of Mindoro are looking for ways to adapt for a more sustainable, eco-friendly and healthy modes of farming that can also meet the growing demand for organic products of the island.

In this context, the Salika Agriculture Cooperative was started in this city and is now expanding to Occidental Mindoro.

Initially organized in the early part of 2019 and initiated by local growers, small land owners and agricultural products entrepreneurs, the cooperative initially engaged in the production of organic fertilizers using a technology that does not use synthetic chemicals.

But the Covid-19 pandemic halted the initiative.

Now, duly registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and has elected new officers, the cooperative is now also engaged in conducting trainings for organic farming in partnership with other institutions offering transfer of technology and highlighting best practices in the new farming approach.

Lino Carandang, a retired banker and now the chairman of Salika, told The Manila Times that they have recently opened a hub that would serve as a showroom of the products, training for new members, and a learning venue for student youths that are enrolled in agriculture courses.

“The challenge for us now is how to convince more farmers to engage in organic farming. We are conducting information dissemination through radio and TV guesting and seminars in the farms. We are also planning to print out guides. We also tell farmers that they can make their own fertilizers with the end goal of minimizing if not eradicating the use of synthetic fertilizers to rejuvenate the nutrients of the soils,” Carandang said.

Orlando Catibog, co-chairman of the cooperative, said that he was able to talk to local farmers in Occidental Mindoro and they expressed their interest in the concept of organic farming.

“They are very interested in our program with one saying that one of the advantages of organic farming is for health. For fear of ingesting toxic chemicals from synthetic fertilizers, in the new technology, consumers are assured of healthy food intake,” Catibog said.

The cooperative is currently in the production of organic fertilizers using machineries funded from a grant from an Australian nongovernmental organization.

They also sell seedlings that have been tested to produce yields more than those using nonorganic inputs. The hub and training center is located at No. 35, Bayanihan Village in Calapan City.