Bicol farmers join Natural Farming confab in Naga City

By Analiza S. Macatangay

Wednesday 8th of February 2012

NAGA City, Feb.8 (PIA) --- Agricultural advocates and practitioners from this city and other parts of the Bicol Region took part in the recently concluded Natural Farming Systems and Technology seminar held at the SM Activity Center-Naga in keeping with the ideals of promoting the best and natural source of man’s daily consumption.

The two-day seminar workshop was spearheaded by the Resource Enhancement and Cooperation by Habitat, Inc. ( REACH), a non government organization dedicated to uplift the welfare and development of small communities in the Bicol Region.

Co-sponsored by the city of Naga through Mayor John Bongat, the activity is also in consonance with the LGU’s program to help farmers improve their productivity and their local state of economy by equipping themselves with the basic technical know-how and actual hands-on practice.

REACH chairman Jun Lavadia Jr, concurrently the Barangay Captain of Tabuc, Naga City lauded and congratulated the participants who came all the way from Quezon province just to attend the lectures delivered by Andy Lim, a Natural Farming Technology specialist and a co-founder of the Tribal Mission Foundation, Intl, Inc.

REACH spearheads advocacies for the promotion of good health and wellness, environmental protection, and livelihood generation through eco-friendly agriculture.

One of the highlights of the discussion was the promotion of raising animals without using chemically enhanced growth hormones and synthetic materials basically found in the animal feeds. The participants were taught how to prepare organic materials for fertilizer, pesticides and other feeds.

More and more agricultural practitioners are turning into organic farming due to its various benefits and advantages, particularly to the health and wellness of its partakers.

For one, naturally grown vegetables and fruits, tastes better and since they are nourished naturally, they have longer shelf life and do not show susceptibility to rapid mold and rotting. Most of naturally grown foods are resistant to diseases and pests and doesn’t put much financial burden to the farmers by getting away from expensive and chemically-laden fertilizers to ensure the superior growth of their plants.

The promotion of the said program is also pursuant to the provisions of Section 27 of Republic Act No. 10068, otherwise known as the Organic Agriculture of 2010. (MAL/LSM-PIA Camarines Sur)