Only a fraction of PHL agriculture is organic

By EJ Dominic Fernandez
Organic agriculture still has a long way to go in the Philippine setting as it is still in its “formative years” as    it comprises only 0.12 percent of the country’s agriculture.
This was one of the points emphasized by former officer-in-charge (OIC) of the city agriculturist office and councilor-elect, Leonardo R. Avila III when promoted organic agriculture to Davao Rotarians at The Marco Polo Davao last Tuesday.
The global demand for organic products is estimated at $15.6 billion, however, the Philippines’ organic exports have only reached a relatively low $18 million, Avila said.
The domestic demand for organic products is estimated at $20 to $30 million, which is P860 million to P1.3 billion.  
Looking at agriculture in the Philippines as a whole, it is noticeable that organic agriculture is still a small percent of this sector.
Avila said that agriculture in the Philippines produces 17 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and involves 33 percent of the country’s labor force.
The agriculture sector covers 55 percent of the country’s poorest population and it contributes 33 percent of the country’s greenhouse emissions, according top Avila’s report.
The figures above are the reasons why the agricultural sector envisions the organic agriculture sector to contribute to the country’s over-all agricultural growth and development, in terms of sustainability, competitiveness and food security, Avila said.
The organic agricultural sector also envisions at least five percent of Philippine agriculture farm areas to practice organic farming and both national and international consumers to increasingly support Philippine organic food products by 2016.
In Davao City, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte signed June 2011 for the total implementation of organic farming in the city through the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the City Ordinance 0384-10, known as the Organic Agricultural Ordinance of Davao City.
According to Avila, this is “an ordinance institutionalizing, promoting, and developing organic agriculture in Davao City, providing funds therefore and for other purposes.”