Organic agriculture can mitigate climate change

ASIDE from producing safe food products, organic agriculture can also help halt global warming.

Dr. Rodel Maghirang of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños said organic agriculture is a production system that promotes health of soil, ecosystems and people.

Speaking during the national vegetable congress held in February in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Maghirang said organic farming combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit shared environment and quality of life.

Maghirang said conventional agriculture practices such as excessive use of inorganic fertilizer and pesticides contribute a lot to greenhouse-gas emission.

In practicing organic agriculture, carbon sequestration, the process of capturing carbon dioxide, is being done through crop residues and other organic solids.

“This can help offset emission up to 25 percent of greenhouse gases. It also enhances soil fertility and improves soil retention, which helps sustain yields during drought,” he said.

“Every ton of carbon lost from the soil adds 3.67 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Conversely, every one-ton-per-hectare increase in soil organic carbon represents 3.67 tons sequestered from the atmosphere and removed from greenhouse-gas equation,” he said.

To economically take out carbon from the ground, Maghirang urged farmers to use plants or weeds and organic manure to cover the ground instead of plastic mulch. Maghirang also recommended the use of microorganisms to convert soil into stable forms.

“Regular applications of manure, compost and or compost teas will inoculate the soil with beneficial organisms that build humus and other long-lasting carbon polymers,” he said.

To sustain crop production, Maghirang said farmers must change focus on fertilizing the soil and instead of the plant.

Among the natural fertilizers that will increase nutrient storage and availability are indigenous microorganism, fish amino acid, fermented plant juice, farmer’s effective microorganisms, and egg-lime formulation. These fertilizers are made out of farm waste such as fruit and vegetable peelings, fresh livestock manure and urine, and fresh fish trash.

Maghirang also advised farmers to avoid excessive synthetic fertilizers, as this is one of the major causes of the decline of soil carbon.

“The higher the application of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, the greater the amount of soil carbon lost as carbon dioxide. This is one of the major reasons conventional agricultural systems suffer a decline in soil carbon while organic systems increase soil carbon,” he said.

“If possible, avoid herbicides, pesticides and fungicides as they destroy beneficial microorganisms. Also, avoid soil erosion as the top few centimeters of soil is the area richest with carbon,” he said.

Aside from mitigating the impact of climate change, organic farming is also getting lucrative considering that the global market for organic products reached a value of over $46 billion in 2007.

There is also mounting evidence that organic agriculture can improve incomes and living standards of the poor farmers. For instance, the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe in Sibulan, Toril district in Davao City grows organically produced Bungulan bananas and exports their produce to Japan.

The farmers in the community produced organic fertilizers from dried-banana peelings and rejects through vermicomposting.  Natural pesticides were also applied using indigenous materials such as siling labuyo (native hot pepper).

Another rewarding experience in organic farming is the production of organically grown rice of Kilolog Multipurpose Farmers Cooperative and the Magsaysay Multipurpose Cooperative, both in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

These two cooperatives have been producing the famous “MagRice” which is now being sold at a premium price higher than the conventionally produced rice. The supermarkets of leading malls in Davao City and General Santos City now serve as among the products sales outlet.  Other outlets were also established in Digos City and as far as Cebu and Metro Manila.

Instead of chemical pesticides, farmers in the area use milk and honey spray to attract natural enemies or beneficial insects in the field, which serve as biological control for harmful insects.  Moreover, the organic concoction helps maintain and improve the rice vigor, natural aroma and good eating quality.  It is also believed to increase the weight of the grains.  The herbs heal and prevent pests and diseases of their crop.

Organic fertilizers are also applied using agricultural waste, such as rice stalks and manure from chicken, horses, carabaos, cows, and fish intestines. –Noel T. Provido, BUsinessmirror