The Davao City-based Interface Development Interventions, Inc. is encouraging farmers to apply for the certification of their organic farms in the region.
Chinkie Pelño Golle IDIS executive director said on Monday they are currently promoting local Participatory Guarantee System, an alternative certification brandinglocal organic producers.
“PGS is a localized affordable and inclusive certification which guarantees that the produce that consumers buy is organically grown by local Davao farmer,” said Golle.
Golle said that PGS is based on recognized and international standards for organic production. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements has considered the PGS as especially apt for small farmers who can produce organic foods for the domestic market.
According to IFOAM, PGS is defined as a “locally focused quality assurance systems,” She said the PGS certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and build on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange.
“Under the City ordinance 0384-10 or the Davao City Organic Agriculture Ordinance, The city shall adopt the existing national standards for the accreditation of organic agriculture practitioners which may take into account system, in order to mainstream organic agriculture,” said Golle.
Golle said, PGS logo means that the farmer genuinely produces organic products and meets the strict standards set forth by the National Standards for Organic Agriculture. It also means one can participate in the growing affordable organically grown crops without spending very expensive certification fees.
According to Golle, the advantages of a PGS certified means the farmer is a recognized as a city Organic Farming practitioner who has the important role of ensuring regular organic food production to help the city attain food security.
Golle said that the OCCP and PGS branding is both valid certification and recognized by international certifying bodies such as the IFOAM. OCCP certification is expensive than PGS branding for small organic famers eying the international export market. PGS system levels the playing field among organic producers and ultimately benefits the local consumers because the organic crop are affordable than OCCP.
