President Benigno Aquino III has directed the Department of Agriculture to ensure that two percent of its annual budget is allocated for organic farming projects. That means organic farming is assured of a P600-million share in the department’s P30 billion budget for the year.
The President gave the order during the 8th National Organic Agriculture Conference at the Aquino Center of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac on Tuesday.
“I expect the Department of Agriculture to craft and implement policies and programs to hasten organic farming under our National Organic Agriculture Program,” Mr. Aquino said.
“With the help of the Department of Budget and Management, we will make sure that at least two percent of their budget will be spent to implement our organic farming program in compliance with Republic Act 10068,” he added.
Republic Act 10068, otherwise known as Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, strengthens the State’s policy to promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines.
The President is promoting organic agriculture as a means to address the issue of food security in the country.
Mr. Aquino said through organic agriculture, farmers are ensured of cumulatively conditioning and enriching soil fertility, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent depletion of natural resources, and further protect the health of farmers, consumers and the general public.
He noted that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has determined that organic agriculture has the potential to increase farm productivity, thereby increasing farmers’ wages and providing food for all. –Joyce Pañares, Manila Standard Today
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