Negros Occidental has to classify its crops as viable for immediate application of organic farming because in sugarcane production, 95 percent of the industry in the province is not organic, Arsenio Barcelona, president of Harbest Agribusiness Corp. said yesterday.

From the perspective of an argi-businessman and in the private sector, Barcelona said, Negros Occidental has to categorize the crops and identify which among its products can easily be applied with organic farming practices.

Sugarcane farmers in Negros still use chemical fertilizers and toxic chemicals to control pest and disease, he said. For them to convert from conventional to organic will take a lot of time, Barcelona also said.

However, he said, organic farming is easily applied for vegetables though targets have to be made, adding that there will always be skepticism whenever people campaign for its practice.

The demand for organic products in the local market is relatively small but the Asian market is really big, he also said.

“If farmers want to do it, it can be done but they need to have the determination, the right technology, and the marketing strategy,” Barcelona said.

He also said that developing small farmers is not enough.

They need to have a community of farmers that can produce the sustainable volume that the market demands, Barcelona added.

There is a big potential but farmers have to open their minds, hey should be organized, and there must be entrepreneurs to help them with the business process, Barcelona also said.

“If we want to tap the Philippine market, we have to think big and partner with entrepreneurs who are already in the business,” he added. *LTG

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