Hope for farmers through Organic Farming

Text and Photos by Wein P. Gadian

Chicos and Mangoes are few of the farm's fruit bearing trees

People are health conscious nowadays. The kind of food and where it came from is as important as how it was prepared. The use of preservatives in food preparation is also given much attention as they may cause hazards to our health. Many farmers have been using pesticides which are dangerous to our health. A new alternative that is both beneficial for the farmers as well as for consumers is Organic Farming. As defined, organic farming is the omission of the usage of chemicals because these are harmful to the health. It is a process and results are not an overnight occurrence. Organic farming is laborious that everything is prepared manually. The land itself is set, and also the fertilizers to be used for the crops.

Sesame plants only at Orendain Organic Demo Farm

One farm that has been practicing in this type of farming is the Orendain Organic Demo Farm in Barangay Nanga, Guimbal. This two-hectare land, owned by the Orendain family has been producing rice, corn, sesame seeds, mangoes, among others. The farm also has various animals like cows, pigs, goats and more. It has been practicing natural farming for three years, and has proven that the crops are much tastier. Orendain said, “The rice is devoid of an unpleasant aroma from pesticides. The grains are much longer and fuller.”

This three-month old piglet finds a home in the farm

Organic Farming has also zeroed their expenses since they started. They now make their own organic fertilizers for the crops. These fertilizers may vary depending on the crops. For different vegetables it's a combination of ‘Madre de Cacao' and molasses. For rice, it's a mixture of crushed ‘kohol' , ‘kangkong' and molasses. “At first it was hard since we had to go back to the basics…but the challenge was that everything, even the once perilous creature (kohol) can be used to fertilized the land.”

WEEDS are easier to spot with these rows in between the rice field

Although other farmers find it impossible that the farm could produce crops, the Orendain Organic Demo farm has grown its crops without delay on the harvest. It also produce more than what they have expected. “Worms on the crops are also natural in Organic Farming, because it proves that the crop is healthy and without chemicals.” Natural Agriculture brings back nature's nutrient and minerals needed by plants to grow. It also produces healthier and abundant crops for farmers. The Orendain Organic Demo Farm supports and welcomes those who are interested in Natural Agriculture. You may visit their farm in Barangay Nanga, Guimbal, Iloilo.