DA pushes organic farming, nixes genetically-modified crops

CEBU, Philippines - While the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is hoping for the government to approve the planting of genetically modified organism (GMO) crops possibly by 2011, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on the other hand wants otherwise.

DA secretary Proceso Alcala said that as long as there is no guarantee that it will be safe, the Philippine government will not allow a testing or even implementation of GMO rice production.

Alcala, who is one of the principal authors of the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, in his stint as Congressman of Quezon’s Second District, said that the DA will follow a system that will push organic and natural based farming, although farmers will also be given an option to use the conventional method—those that will use chemical-based fertilizers.

Alcala said that his office will be checking out if the IRRI is still pursuing its study on the possibility of introducing the GMO rice production in the Philippines.

“Why do we pursue in producing GMO rice, when we can produce affordable and healthy crops,” Alcala said referring to the rich agricultural land in the Philippines which can ably produce health-friendly crops without injecting sophisticated technology that also pose health safety of the consumers.

According to Alcala, the DA has now started its re-orientation program, from the department’s personnel down to the farmers, to introduce the natural farming or organic farming system, and also the conventional farming.

Right now, all personnel in DA have been re-skilled to attune with their expertise in organic farming, as well as conventional method.

He said in this re-orientation program, farmers will now be given two choices in the farming system, whether to utilize the convention method, which is adopting new technology, and new farming system, or pursue the natural based farming or producing organically grown crops.

Following the thrust, Alcala said the implementation of GMO rice production in the Philippines is going to be difficult saying “malabo tayong mag produce pa nang GMO rice.”

Personally, Alcala said he is against this method, and he is an organic farming advocate.

The Philippines-based IRRI earlier said that Golden Rice, a Vitamin A-enriched grain it developed, is being bred into local varieties as well in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Vietnam as part of testing to ensure safety.

The BioTech Group of the Philippine government is already on its 10-year study for the possibility of introducing GMO rice in the Philippines.

The availability of Golden Rice (produced through GMO) which contains genes from maize and other sources of beta-carotene, was expected to address the deficiency of the micronutrient, Vitamin A, especially among the poor in Asia.

IRRI revealed that over 90 million children in Southeast Asia suffer from Vitamin A deficiency, more than in any other region, and the introduction of Golden Rice in the Philippines may be largely meant to benefit public health instead of boosting yields to curb imports.

Republic Act No. 10068, or the “Organic Agriculture Act of 2010,” establishes a comprehensive organic farming program that includes incentives for farmers engaged in the production of agricultural crops free from harmful chemical pesticides and fertilizer.

The new law, signed last April 6, 2010 also created a National Organic Agricultural Board (NOAB) to provide policy direction towards the promotion of organic farming in a bid to promote a healthier citizenry and an environment-friendly atmosphere.