By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The organic farming in Negros Occidental has widened to 2,000 hectares according to provincial agriculturist Edmundo Raul Causing.

Causing, who spearheaded the opening of the 15th Negros Island Organic Festival which runs until November 26, said they are looking at going mainstream with the establishment of organic hubs in the province.

The Organic Festival returned following a two-year hiatus brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Board Member Andrew Montelibano said the province has become conscious of the urgency to pursue organic farming and has endeavored for its advancement and practice.

The province has been one of the country’s top performing organic agricultural provinces.

“We reaffirm our goal to enhance the market potential of our organic products. Organic agriculture need not be limited to mere production, it has to be enhanced by entrepreneurship and it has to be a viable source of income,” Montelibano said.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson also emphasized in his message that as stated in Section 2 of the Organic Agricultural Act of the Philippines, the promotion of the practice of organic agriculture will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs./DGB, WDJ