Negros Oriental has enough rice and corn and other agricultural products for 2014, Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca said recently.

Based on last year’s data, he said, the province has 40 percent rice, and 70 percent corn grits supply. He said Negros Oriental will not be short of rice and corn supply and other agricultural products this year.

Paltinca said that if not for the calamities that hit Bayawan City and Zamboanguita town recently, the projected rice supply should have reached 60 percent.

He said the province has lots of other agricultural products, such as kamote, cassava, bananas, fruits and vegetables being sold to Siquijor, Cebu, Zamboanga del Norte, Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Mindoro provinces.

He added that the province’s organic agriculture program will continue, with the P10 million allotted for the propagation of organic farming in the towns and cities of Negros Oriental.

He said seminars and training for farmers on how to make bio-organic fertilizer for organic farming will be conducted regularly.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the micro small medium enterprises in Negros Oriental are pushing for green economy, by turning environmental challenges into business opportunities.

A “greening learning visits” to two universities in Dumaguete City were held recently, that DTI provincial director Javier Fortunato said is an offshoot of the “Greening Opportunities for MSMEs” seminar held last month.

The MSMED Council members visited St. Paul University-Dumaguete to observe its greening school practices, like the set up of glass asphalt pathway, eco-sanitation facilitation and practicing solid waste management.

The university is aiming for a zero waste by reducing the burning of garbage, and promoting the recycling of trash and innovative use of recycled materials. The SPUD also practices organic farming, with its demonstration farm in Barangay Calo, San Jose town, boasting of high-breed livestock and vegetables.

Foundation University, meanwhile, is producing coco sugar at its farm in Barangay Tandayag, Amlan town. The demand for coco sugar is increasing because its health benefits. FU is also converting organic wastes into organic fertilizer.

Fortunato said he wanted to observe and learn from SPUD and FU how they practice greening, especially in waste management,water and energy efficiency, natural resource management, green transport and supply chain.*RG

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