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Sustainable Agriculture

Farmers have long been crying for attention on their poverty situation exacerbated by food shortage, lack of proper nutrition and lack of income for their families.

This condition paved the way for the issuance of Executive Order (E.O.) 481 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo known as the Promotion and Development of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines.

The E.O. states: “to promote agriculture development, conserve environmental resources and promote social equity and product access to foreign and domestic markets”.  Furthermore it seeks to enhance global competitiveness, environmental integrity, food security and safety, and increase productivity and alleviate poverty.

This law prompted the drafting of the Philippine Organic Agriculture Roadmap (2007-2010).  As articulated by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), “Organic agriculture includes all agricultural systems that promote the environmentally, socially, and economically sound production of food and fibers”.  This reduces the use of chemo-synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.  Instead, it allows the powerful laws of nature to increase both agricultural yields and disease resistance.

In a meeting held at the Century Imperial Suites, Quezon City on 27 October 2006 to formulate the road map, Philippine Development Assistance Program (PDAP) mentioned that the, “the issuance of EO 481 presents opportunities and challenges to the organic agriculture industry. As the industry is dispersed, regrouping and constituency building is needed for a stronger voice at the policy level. The road map is seen to look over the long-term development of the industry and would serve as a platform where different sectors could collaborate.”

The E.O. 481 has the following objectives: (1) promote organic agriculture as a farming scheme especially in rural farming communities; (2) forge effective networking and collaboration with the stakeholders involved in the production, handling, processing and marketing of organic agriculture products; (3) guarantee food and environmental safety by means of an ecological approach to farming; and (4) ensure the integrity of organic products through the approved organic certification procedures and organic production, handling and processing standards.

Consultations
Series of meetings, workshops and consultations were already conducted.  From 2004 to present, these gatherings provided outputs which served as baseline information essential in crafting the roadmap, some of these were: National Organic Workshops (June 2004 and December 2005), Organic Agriculture Agenda Workshops in Bacolod (August 2006) and Davao (September 2006), interview of industry stakeholders by Peace and Equity Foundation (August 2006), EO 481 Working Committee Meeting (September 2006), BAFPS EO Consultations in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, and Manila (October 2006 and November 2006) and previous studies on organic agriculture in the Philippines.

Based on the draft roadmap prepared by the PDAP “these consultations converge on the common agenda of ensuring genuine representation of small-scale organic farmers as well as increasing their access to and control of resources”.

Unified vision
From the series of discussion by the different stakeholders and the definition and principles of organic agriculture by the IFOAM, a unified vision was formulated for the organic industry of the Philippines which is “Sectorally reinforcing and mutually complementing approaches geared towards the development of a viable, sustainable and globally competitive organic agriculture industry”.

The program shall be aligned with the objectives to: (1) protect the integrity of organically certified products; (2) further enhance the stakeholders' awareness through a more focused capability building and establishment of commodity specific pilot sites; (3) increase productivity and income of the stakeholders in the supply chain; and (4) develop a sustainable market for organic products.

Collaboration
Non-government organizations (NGOs) and People's organizations (POs) have been long promoting diverse sustainable farming systems and technologies, developing market linkages and mechanisms, among others.

Government agencies have been conducting training for agriculture producers.  In lieu of the creation of the National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP), the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture serves as the chairperson for the National Organic Agriculture Board.  Other agencies involved are the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Science and Technology.

In 2003, the DA-Bureau of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Products Standards (DA-BAFPS) handled the standards development and accreditation of local certifying bodies in the Philippines.  BAFPS also issued the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of E.O 481.  In the same year, the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP) was established as a local certifying body that has a multi-sectoral membership.

Research, development, and extension activities
Based on the draft, the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) and the DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) are tasked to identify, prioritize and implement through their collaborating agencies research projects and related activities on organic agriculture.  They shall develop, enhance, support and consolidate related activities and technologies.

Other agencies involved are the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the Bureau of Post-Harvest Research and Extension (BPRE).  These agencies shall assist in the development of organic farming systems pursuant to their organizational mandates.

The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) shall undertake technology transfer and related extension activities. Likewise, the Bureau of Soils and Water management (BSWM) of the DA shall primarily focus on soils and water conservation measures and other strategies to enhance soil productivity and fertility.

In years to come, through the Organic Agriculture Roadmap, the organic agriculture industry in the Philippines shall stand up. Poverty incidence will hopefully diminish with farmers benefitting the most.

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Sources
1. Executive Order 481, Promotion and Development of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines
2. Draft Philippine Organic Agriculture Roadmap (2007-2010) prepared by the Philippine Development Assistance Program.
3. Roadmap for organic agriculture underway, Miko Jasmine Mojica, BAR Chronicle Vol. 7 No. 10 October Issue.