Tacloban City, Leyte - Republic Act No. 1151 or the Act Amending RA 10068 (Organic Agriculture Act of 2010) was enacted to recognize the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) as an option for organic certification.
In Region 8, most of the municipalities are embracing organic agriculture farming system, understanding the potential of organic products and its benefits. However, to encourage farmers not to switchback to conventional farming system, the availability of organic or certified organic fertilizer is deemed necessary.
To support the LGU in addressing the challenge, the Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 8 offers “Organic Fertilizer Production” for Organic Agriculture Focal Persons. Capacitating the partners in the Local Government Unit will reinforce the basic need of the farmers in continuing their practices of organic farming and eventually acquire organic certification.
With the training, Ronnie Bocboc realized that the concoctions he mostly used were only soil supplements, not organic fertilizer. “Through this training, my definition of organic fertilizer broadened, and I took in new skills in producing organic fertilizer, such as vermicomposting, bokashi, and others. Again, thank you for this opportunity. It is true that the progress of the community depends on the people holding the responsibility, and that people are we”, he added.
First time OA training attendee Jovelyn Casselano also shares, “Everything that I have learned here is new to me from the prerequisites to the production of organic fertilizer. Initially, I thought that vermicast was an organic fertilizer but then I realized with this training it was just a soil conditioner. Having attended with this training helps me to gain more knowledge and it changed the perspective on organic agriculture that I once knew.”
A total of 25 participants completed the Training on Organic Fertilizer Production on June 20-22, 2022 at La Granja de Reyna, Brgy. Bagacay, Tacloban City, Leyte. (With reports from GVGacutan)
