Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat yesterday said the Department of Agriculture has more projects in the pipeline for Negros Occidental, that she called “the trailblazer of organic agriculture in the country”.

Puyat, who was the keynote speaker at the opening rites of the 8th Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival at the Capitol grounds in Bacolod City, also assured that super typhoon Yolanda-hit areas in Negros Occidental, including fishermen who lost their fishing boats, will get assistance from the  DA.

She said the DA has already delivered 75,000 bags of rice to Yolanda-hit areas, and will provide free fishing boats with 5 horsepower engines to fishermen whose vessels were destroyed by the super typhoon.

The DA has initially allocated P40 million for the fishing boats, and is still assessing the total damage to agriculture, she said.

But Puyat said Yolanda’s destruction will not have an impact on organic agriculture in the country.

Last night, a dinner-for-a-cause at the Organic Farmers Festival raised P166,250 for the victims of “Yolanda”.

Of the amount, P100,000 was pledged by the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations, through its national president, Rafael Coscolluela.

Meanwhile, Puyat, in her speech at the festival’s opening rites, assured that the DA, through the National Organic Agriculture Program, will continue to support Negros Occidental’s efforts at promoting organic farming.

“I challenge you to continue to be the premier province exemplifying organic agriculture by further spreading the advocacy to your nearby provinces,” Puyat said.

“Let us prove that organic agriculture is a healthy culture,” she stressed.

Puyat and Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday morning distributed 12 threshers, eight reaper harvesters, 27 collapsible dryer cases, and two hermetic cocoons to farmers’ groups in Negros Occidental.

The on-farm mechanization equipment from the DA were valued at P3.2 million, with the Negros Occidental provincial government providing 15 percent of the total cost.

Also released was P531,000 in indemnity claims payments to farmers.

Puyat said that, to further intensify the promotion of fresh and processed organic products in the province, the DA is also establishing trading posts in Bacolod City and Silay City.

Aside from projects already funded by the DA in Negros Occidental, there are  more in the pipeline being processed, she said.

She said that, in order to help more small farmers, the National Agriculture Board has resolved to increase available funds for production support.

With this, the small farmers’ immediate needs, such as organic seeds, planting materials, small farm implements, fingerlings, shredders and African night crawlers can be provided by submitting a set of basic documentary requirements, she said.

This new regulation will be effective in 2014, she said.

The organic festival opened with 150 organic producers and retailers from both Negros Occidental and Oriental showcasing their crops.

There are more participants in this year’s festival, which has grown by leaps and bounds, Marañon said.

The governor also said the recent super typhoon is a reminder of the need for us to change our ways to protect the environment and prevent the worsening of climate change.

He said “Yolanda” is a reminder that with climate change stronger, more frequent typhoons are to be expected.

Shifting to organic agriculture will protect the environment and ensure healthier food, he said.

Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson  said organic farming in Negros Occidental has provided a significant contribution to the economic growth and food sustainability of the province.*CPG

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