Organic agriculture advocate Maxey Atog is encouraging local farmers to venture into organic farming to produce healthy foods for the market.
Maxey Atog, vice president of the Association of Davao Organic Advocates, said organic farming is beneficial in the long run as it assures the farmer of higher income.
“Farming is a big help to our markets today. Farmers can have a less expense and more profit compared to non-organic farming,” he said.
Non-Antibiotic farming, also known as organic farming, is being pushed by the association of Davao Organic Advocates as the direction of the livestock industry.
He said ‘organic day’ where farmers sell their organic products should be done every day.
He added that the income derived from non-organic products appears okay but in reality it is not.
“Production is a big process so the profit for non- organic products is larger compared to the expenses in organic farming,” Atog said during interview.
He also added that in the absence of chemicals in organic farming, there are many nutrients developed. Organic products have value-added components such as the nutrients that can be obtained.
Atog, who is also into swine growing, admitted that they have yet to fully implement organic farming in their own farm but he is positive that it is the current direction for the livestock industry.
He was inspired to venture into organic farming when he realized it gave him benefits in health, less biodegradable wastes and the profit he gains.
Atog said organic farm produce is good for the health since it’s pesticide-free. Organic farming is also good for the environment since 60% of biodegradable wastes is converted to organic fertilizer.
He said he will provide technical assistance to farmers who would like to shift to organic farming. Organic farming is a system of agriculture that uses natural inputs instead of chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.
“We will strictly monitor some farms who still continuing in non-organic farming, and train them in a natural way or through indigenous practices, Instead of using synthetic pesticides, natural remedies,” he said.
