An Institute For Organic Farmers

By ZAC B. SARIAN

MANILA, Philippines — The ongoing trend is production of healthy foods, which means naturally-farmed food products that are not sprayed with chemical pesticides or meat products that are laced with antibiotics.

The problem is that there are no well established institutions where interested individuals can learn the fine points of organic agriculture. Most of the seminars are conducted by individuals who have been practicing the techniques of organic agriculture. The curriculum is not included in formal institutions of learning such as the colleges of agriculture and state universities.

Of course, the pioneering individuals are doing good service to the movement. Naturally, if the training is well organized, it could become a healthy partnership of the government and private sector.

Probably that was what was in the mind of Dr. Francisco de la Pena Jr. when he decided to put up about a couple of years ago his Natural Farming Institute in Panabo City. After all, he is the founder of two colleges in Davao del Norte, one in Tagum and the other in Panabo.

So far, he has established showcases of naturally farmed pigs, chickens, goat, vegetables, banana, papaya and even bangus. He has formulated an organic fish feed (he is a fisheries expert with a PhD degree), and has vermiculture bins for the production of organic fertilizer. The institute also has a fermentation house where fermented juices of fruits and plant materials are processed for application in organic farming.

The first batch of trainees came from Davao City consisting mostly of barangay officials. The strategy is to train the higher ups in the community so they can influence their constituents to adopt organic farming techniques more effectively.

One of the most active barangay captains is Jimmy Poliquit of Davao City who has put up his own projects of raising organic pigs and chickens. He is now readying a program whereby the barangay funds will be used to support the dispersal of chickens and pigs among interested barangay members. He stressed, however, that before any recipient is given his pigs or chickens, he will have to undergo training.

Trainees at the Farming Institute of Dr. de la Peña also come from other provinces. For instance, the officials and council members of Maribojoc, Bohol, including Mayor Leoncio Evasco, have undergone training in Panabo
.