balita.ph; April 29, 2014 6:08 am 

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, April 28 -– Joining the country’s trending agricultural methods and farming techniques, Lucena City farmers are beginning to adopt the now “in” organic farming.

Lucena City Mayor Roderick “Dondon” Alcala said on Monday that farmer-trainees and agricultural workers who attended the Training Course on Organic Agriculture for Farmers of Lucena City hosted by the City Agriculturist Office are now eager to venture into this farming trend.

Mayor Dondon Alcala expressed elation of the encouraging results as most Lucena farmers are now engaged in organic farming here and many more farm workers have been lured to join the “green trend.”

The city mayor is also assisting the farmers in looking for more markets for the organic vegetables, fruits and crops to increase farmers’ income.

Alcala said the organic vegetables, fruits and crops may be sold in the nearby markets of Sariaya and other adjacent towns.

The agri-products may be enhanced in better packaging and presentable form to ensure marketability.

He encouraged more farmers and agricultural workers to avail of the agricultural training courses to learn more and prove these farm outputs are naturally grown and using organic methods and avoid harmful chemicals and pesticides.

The mayor also explained that while organic vegetables may be sold at a higher price than the prevailing prices of common vegetables grown with pesticides, the consumers however are assured of fresh, natural and safe crops and vegetables and avoid certain chemical-borne diseases.

Alcala said the mark-up price actually helps the organic farmers to earn extra income out of the organic agricultural method. [(PNA)LAP/SEPA-A/GIDEON BELEN/UTB]