Twenty-three provincial focal persons on organic agriculture of Region III were in Bacolod City for a four-day tour visiting farms in Negros Occidental.

Edna Garde, manager of the Farmers’ Information and Technology Services Center, said yesterday that the team is led by Dr. Orlino Mercado, regional focal person on organic agriculture and representatives from the seven provinces of Region III.

She said Negros Occidental has become the destination and model for other provinces to learn organic farming and practices and how they will start their campaign.

Tourists from other provinces already know the farms to visit in Negros and these include the RU Foundry and May’s Organic Garden in Bacolod City, Peñalosa Farm in Victorias City, Fresh Start in Silay City, Buru Buro Farm in Talisay, Garde said.

She said the farms are owned and operated by Ramon Uy, Sr. and Ramon Uy, Jr., Ramon Peñalosa, and Pamela Henares.

These people have become the implementers and prime movers of the organic farming in Negros Occidental, she also said.

Meanwhile, a FITS monitoring report on agricultural tours for the first quarter of 2012 recorded 200 site visits.

The visitors were mostly from the agriculture sector from other provinces, from the academe, and some private tours.

Many private and educational tours coordinate with farm owners directly and do not pass through the FITS center, she said. *LTG

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