Picture of Joeven C. Calasagsag
Davao farmers now shifting to organic farming
by Joeven C. Calasagsag - Tuesday, 19 October 2010, 06:41 PM
 
balita-dot-ph, October 19, 2010 10:38 am

DAVAO DEL NORTE, Oct. 18 – Calls for shifting to organic farming from the conventional form has been reaping fruits with a number of farmers now slowly adopting the system.

Dr. Benny Corcolan, vice president research information division of Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO), a banana plantation in this province, said five percent of the total 6,500 hectares TADECO plantation area is now using organic materials in growing bananas.

Corcolan said TADECO started using organic materials in the banana firm’s replants two to three years ago.
The plants are not easily stressed with the use of organic materials, Corcolon said based on the results in TADECO’s plantation area.

In terms of the yield, Dr. Alex Cantil of TADECO’s Agriculture Operation Division said the use of organic material such as vermicast fertilizer contributed in the growth of the yields in the plantation. He, however, clarified that the growth can also be attributed to the entire sustainable agriculture practice.

Banana harvests by TADECO farmers climbed presently to 5,000 boxes per hectare from 4,000 boxes per hectare some 10 years ago, Cantil said.

“But it’s not purely because of organic fertilizer. Other good agricultural practices generally contributed to growth of the yields,” Cantil said.

Corcolon also said due to the lack of vermicast supply in the market, the number of hectares to apply the organic input is also limited.

Given the favorable outcomes of organic farming, TADECO has created the Vermiculture Project among the dependents of TADECO farmers, Corcolon said.

He said the project where families and relatives of farmers working with TADECO are engaging into vermiculture project in their own backyards would help augment the supply of vermicast.

TADECO is currently buying vermicast at an estimated price of P320 per bag or P10 a kilo. By Judy G. Quiros[(PNA) LAP/JGQ/lvp]

Source: Davao farmers now shifting to organic farming


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