Organic zone pushed

Relative to the celebration of the Organic Agriculture Month this November, the Interface Development Interventions hopes for the passage of an ordinance declaring Brgy. Sibulan in Toril an organic zone.

Last week, there has been a Committee Hearing under the Councilor Marissa Abella’s Committee on food and agriculture to declare an organic zone in the City.

Among the areas eyed for pilot is the Brgy. Sibulan.

Sibulan was considered to be declared an organic zone since there are established farmers’ associations in there which are into organic vegetables, organic banana and farmers’ cooperatives.

The Sibulan Brgy. Captain and Brgy. Councilors were present during the Committee Hearing last week.

“They (Brgy. Sibulan officials) are willing to become an organic zone because there are already a number of existing organic farms in Sibulan,” said Chinkie Peliño-Golle during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.

“On November 28, the Culmination Day for the organic month, we are hoping that the Brgy. Sibulan will already be declared as an organic zone of the City,” Golle added.

In order for an area to be declared as an Organic Zone, there should be existing organic farms in the area.

The organic landowners and farmers should also allow their farms to be certified as an organic farm.

Once certified, they must only apply organic inputs.

The certifying body locally is the Davao-based Participatory Guarantee System (PGS-Davao) which is a monitoring body on the organic inputs applied.

Such certification is applicable for domestic sale of organic produce.

Meanwhile, for export produce, farmers may apply for a certification body that may cost up to P40-50 thousand per commodity.

Other than the passage of the ordinance, exhibits of organic products are displayed at Felcris Centrale.

Through Proclamation No. 1030 signed 2015 by then President Benigno Aquino III, November of every year is declared as Organic Agriculture Month. (Julianne A. Suarez)