Koronadal aims to become Organic Agri City
AGRICULTURE • 14:35 PM Mon Sep 29, 2014
1,991
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
Products of organic farming
COTABATO CITY (Sept. 29) – Koronadal City, the
regional seat of the SOCCSKSARGEN region is aiming to become the first organic
agriculture city of the region.
To achieve that, the city will host the first
Organic Farming as one of the activities of Koronadal City 14th Charter
anniversary, the city agriculture office said.
Koronadal City Mayor Peter Miguel wants the city to
become the Organic Agriculture City of the SOCCKSKSARGEN region.
South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato,
Saranggani and the cities of Koronadal, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Cotabato and Gen.
Santos City compose the SOCCSKSARGEN region, also known as Region 12.
The week-long anniversary celebration and 4th
Negosyo Festival will commence on Wednesday.
According to Emelita Miguel, city agriculturist, the
local government unit will host the first Regional Congress and Trade Fair on
Organic Agriculture.
The organic congress will be at the Gaisano Grand
Mall beginning Wednesday to be spearheaded by the city government and the
Regional Organic Farmers and Producers Association, Inc.
Organic agriculture is a major program of the city
government because Mayor Miguel wanted to make the city as the first organic
city of the region,” Miguel said.
Amalia Jayag-Datukan, Department of Agriculture 12
regional executive director, said Sec. Proceso Alcala has confirmed his
attendance during the Congress.
As planned, DA Undersecretary Bernadette
Romulo-Puyat, national organic agriculture board (NOAB) chair, will present the
opportunities and challenges of organic farming ahead of the ASEAN Integration.
Leo Caneda, national coordinator of National Organic
Agriculture Plan (NOAP) will talk about the roles of local government units in
the implementation of Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2011
and the NOAP.
For participations to have something to emulate and
look up to, success stories and best practices in organic production and
marketing will form part of the program.
Among the speakers are Romano Laurilla, general
manager of North Cotabato’s Don Bosco Multi-purpose Cooperative, a cooperative
that ventured and succeeded in organic farming. It also became the exporter of
organically-grown red, black and brown rice in the country.
Organic livestock and poultry growing, marketing and
production of organic inputs, health and benefits of local herbs and
alternative medicine will also be highlighted.
Datukan will talk about her department’s support
program in organic agriculture.
Koronadal was converted into a component city of
South Cotabato, now known as the City of Koronadal by virtue of Republic Act
8803 on October 8, 2000.
At present, Koronadal is a fast developing growth
center composed of 27 barangays including the four zones in the poblacion.
Being the capital city of South Cotabato, it is the
center of the province and the region in terms of political, cultural and
socio-economic activities.