Benefits from organic farming in Ilocos Norte [Philippines]
2008
Anon.
Spiralling prices of inorganic fertilizers heavily affect the food security, livelihood and income of small farmers. Likewise, continuous and heavy application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides contributes to the degradation of the country's natural resource-based particularly soil, water and environment. The Ilocos Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC) spearheaded the regional R and D [research and development] and promotion programs of organic-based farming in Ilocos. Such program aims to develop viable and sustainable agroecosystem through organically grown food crops which are free from chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Part of the programs was a benchmark assessment involving survey of 29 farmers adopters of organic farming practices in selected municipalities of the 2nd district of Ilocos Norte: Paoay, Dingras and Pinili. Four of the 29 farmers interviewed reported to have been practicing organic farming since the 1980s. The use of combined animal manure, green manure and crop rotation and composting of farm wastes were among the earlier practices of the farmers. The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the provincial and municipal agriculture offices formally introduced organic farming technology as one of its major program in the study areas in 2000. Similar programs followed such as Bannawag Program that involved the distribution of low-cost organic fertilizers to farmers in 2002. The modified rapid composting (MRC) was disseminated through technology demonstrations. Together with the use of integrated pest management (IPM), the use of insect bio-control of tricons became popular in 2003. This was intensified in 2006 through technology demonstrations primarily in IPM for tomato and eggplant. The reported benefits, derived from organic farming were sustained productivity, higher income and soil improvement. The farmers found out that insect bio-control was healthful, easy to apply and economically thus reduced their pesticide expenses. There were perceived disadvantages in terms of limited supply, labor intensiveness and increased cost of commercial fertilizers. Other farmers perceived that the overuse of organic materials might affect crop health and productivity. The researchers concluded that farmer's acceptance of organic farming in the study areas was slow due to the perceived technical and economic disadvantages of the technology. The principles and standards of organic agriculture may not be fully understood by the farmers. Intensified information dissemination, technology demonstrations, provision of technical and other support services and utilization of farmers' organization were recommended to promote and strengthen organic farming in Ilocos and other areas as well.
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