Organic farming on the rise worldwide

Organic farming is on the rise worldwide, the Philippines included.

At the last International Conference in Organic Agriculture held in Switzerland, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that conversion of global agriculture to organic management, without use of chemical fertilizer would result in global increase of organic food production.

Intensified development in different countries, according to FAO, backed by proven applied research and development (R&D) would increase food production by 56 percent.

It was also reported that organic farming in agrifarms use 33-56 percent less energy per hectare. It was also gathered that in 2010, there were more than 43 million hectares of farm lands managed organically with the value of food production around $30 billion.

Locally, Dr. Melodio Palaypay, executive director of the National Commission on Urban Pest Control of the Philippines (NCUCP) attributes the increased food production to former president, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, for the enactment of RA 200681 of 2001. The Act provides for development and promotions of organic farming. The NCUCP also credits the former president for the passage of the National Soil Management Law that led to the issuance of the Presidential Proclamation of 2003 which is relevant to the Organic Agriculture natural recovery waste program and prohibition of the use of pesticide and chemical fertilizer. – GERRY CONSTANTINO, Muntinlupa City