World organic market reaches $25B a year

So far Philippine exports of organically grown products are only about $8.23 which is a miniscule 0.0003292 percent of the total global trade ($25 billion) a year.

With the Department of Agriculture’s P273 million "Agri-Kalikasan Program" led by Dr. Rogelio N. Concepcion, director of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management organic production would be expanded tremendously. Of the millions allocation for the program, P246 million will come from the Japan-funded KR-2 fertilizer grant program and the balance of P27 millions from DA’s regular budget.

The Agri-Kalikasan program is broken down into the following proposed components and budgetary allocations: (1) Establishment of model organic farm (P108M); (2) Contract composting and waste recycling (P17.53 million) (3) Organic technology (P120.47 million); (4) Balik Pataba sa Bukirin (Rice hay composting and nutrjient recycling (P7.50 million); (5) Organic upland farming and home bio-garden developent program (P19.5 million).

Agri-Kalikasan is in pursuit of government’s policy thrust supporting organic-based agriculture which "promotes the judicious use of organic fertilizers from all possible sources of biowastes in combination with minimal oil-based fertilizer," Concepcion said.

According to him, the adoption of organic-based agriculture would not be felt the "uncontrolled increases of prices of oil-based chemical fertilizers. Concepcion said. He stressed that "organic-based fertilization has proven several times to be able to improve substantially yields of rice and other crops. Moreover, it helps in improving soil health and the environment."