CARP beneficiaries shift to organic farming

MANILA, Philippines - Some 200 farmer-beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) have turned to organic farming after they underwent training organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

According to DAR Secretary Virgilio De Los Reyes, the training seeks to expand organically-grown rice and other crops because “natural farming is not only healthier for us to consume but it is also safe for the environment. Plus, it is cheaper for farmers because it uses natural materials for fertilizers and most importantly, the yield is much bigger.”              

Under the DAR’s Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services or ARCESS, the department tapped two farmers’ organizations namely, the Sta. Maria Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative (SMARCC) and the Mina de Oro Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative (MAREBEMCO) in Oriental Mindoro, whose farmer-members were trained on organic rice farming and composting.              

Regional director Homer Tobias said that to show and convince the farmers that going organic is better than conventional farming, “We established four demo farms and provided a team of crop specialist to teach the farmers the skills and know-how in the natural ways of farming without harming the environment and without health hazards to farmers, crops and its yield.”              

Crop specialist Dr. Rafael Barroso said that the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has greatly degraded the rural environment. Farmlands are poisoned due to the accumulation of chemicals in the soil.              

“Studies we have made also show that using chemicals has increased the incidence of pests and animal diseases which results in low crop production. It also affects the health of farmers and consumers because the chemicals used in farming leaves harmful residues on agri products,” said Barroso.              

He added, “But aside from the health reasons that we have mentioned, the best benefit that the farmers get in growing organic crops is the yield. We have proven through our demo farms that yield will increase when we harvested 100 cavans of organic rice instead of the expected 80 cavans.              

“And this is just the first cropping. As the soil gets healthier thru organic farming, the continued practice of organic farming will further increase yield to 20 percent more,” said Barroso.              

Tobias said that the DAR thru ARCCESS partnered with agencies like the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, Strategic Intervention and Community-focused Action towards Development and the Department of Trade and Industry, to train farmers in product development and  entrepreneurship so that they could sell their harvested organic rice.              

“Aside from organic farming, we also trained them on basic business techniques so they can properly manage their produce as it goes out in the market,” he said.              

Tobias added, “We call these line agencies as service providers. The DAR and these service providers will help link our farmers to bigger markets.”