The success of the 9th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival has once again proved that Negros Island is indeed Philippines’ leader in organic agriculture. As of noontime yesterday, the 5-day festival has already posted sales of a total of P3,180,856.10 Million, already breaching the target sales of P3M. There was also a significant increase in the number of exhibitors, from 154 last year to 216 this year.
12th National Organic Agriculture to be Held in Bacolod
As announced by Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat during the opening of the festival, the 12th National Organic Agriculture Congress will be held in Bacolod City. This will be another landmark and will make the 10th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival even bigger. Usec. Puyat also turned over a check to Silay City Mayor Oti Montelibano for Silay’s organic trading post.
The holding of the organic congress in Negros will strengthen the position of the Island as the organic food bowl of he Philippines. According to Ramon “Chin-Chin” Uy, about 10,000 hectares in Negros Occidental are planted to organic crops bringing in annual income of more than P1 billion a year.
Governor Alfredo Maranon said the organic movement in Negros Occidental is growing by leaps and bounds which is evident in the increasing number of participants every year. He added that it is unfortunate that our farmers and fisherfolks who bring food to our table remains poor. He urged the agrarian reform beneficiaries not to sell their land but go into organic and plant high value crops. He said the provincial government will continue to assist them.