DA allots P900M for organic program
MANILA – The country’s organic farming movement will get the needed boost as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has allotted an initial P900 million next year to implement various initiatives under the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said yesterday the amount will bankroll four major imperatives.
Alcala bared the initiatives during the 7th National Organic Agriculture Congress Tuesday in Lucena City attended by about 750 participants.
The four major concerns include policy formulation on organic agriculture products regulation and registration, accreditation, certification and labelling; research, development and extension of appropriate sustainable environment and gender-friendly organic agriculture;
Promotion of the establishment of facilities that produce organic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other farm inputs, certification process; and implementation of organic agricultural programs, projects and activities, and provision and delivery of support services to farmers and other stakeholders.
Alcala authored Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 when he served as Quezon representative during the 14th Congress.
Its implementing rules and regulations were recently completed and submitted for approval to the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization.*PNA
