To serve the increasing demand for organic products, the Department of Agriculture (DA) showcased some of Mindanao’s fresh and processed organic products in a three-day exposition at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, together with Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture Chair Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Agriculture Undersecretary for Agribusiness and Marketing Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and DA-11 Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate graced the opening ceremony of ONE Mindanao or the Mindanao-wide Organic and Natural Expo on March 17, 2018.
The event which coincides with the 81st Charter Day of Davao City or Araw ng Dabaw featured 60 farmers who produce and process organic vegetables, fruits, spices and herbs, colored rice, natural sweeteners, local artisan chocolates, cacao, single-origin local coffee, natural butter and dairy products. Marine and other fishery produce caught using sustainable methods were also sold at the expo.
The featured products came from six Mindanao Regions including Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, CARAGA, Davao, Soccsksargen and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The three-day event aims to highlight the national organic program of DA, which is the leading implementing agency of the country’s Organic Agriculture Act.
Villar lauded the Agriculture Department’s initiative to provide healthier option for Filipino consumers. She said the program not only helps the local producers but also protects the environment.
“Na-achieve natin na hindi na sila bibili ng fertilizer and at the same time nakakatulong pa sila sa national solid waste management. Ni-recycle natin ang solid waste into fertilizer na ginagamit ng mga farmer tapos nag-grow sila ng healthy food for the consumer and at the same time healthy ang ating mga soil,” Villar said.
As support for organic farmers, Villar pushed for the establishment of more learning sites in the country to teach organic farming to farmers.
DA-11 Director Oñate said the learning sites will help in sustaining the organic agriculture program of DA.
“Kapag marami nang nagtatanim ng organic, mapapababa na natin ang presyo, which follows our DA mandate to provide available and affordable food,” Oñate said.
Among the highlights of the event was the live weaving of natural and traditional fibers including the Yakan weaves of Basilan, Mindanao Silk of Misamis Oriental, and Inaul weaves of Maguindanao. Aside from the fibers, the demonstration showcased the rich cultural heritage of various tribes and indigenous peoples of Mindanao.
The ONE Mindanao served as prelude to the island-wide organic and natural expo for Visayas in 2019 and Luzon in 2020. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
