PRACTITIONERS and advocates of organic farming in Region 1 have come together and organized the first Regional Organic Trade Fair at the CSI The City Mall in Dagupan from March 27 to 29.

The farmers formed a group, the Association of Advocates and Practitioners of Pangasinan on Organic Agriculture (AsAPP-OA), to push organic agricultural practices and promote their produce.

Victoria Padilla, president of AsAPP-OA, said they were motivated to band together given the growing consciousness on healthy lifestyle.

“Many wanted to know the technologies and where to bring their produce,” said Padilla who is known for her malunggay ice cream product in Manaoag, a popular Catholic pilgrimage destination.

Padilla, who worked with a non-government organization involved with organic agriculture for 26 years, said her group is now working on getting a certification from Organic Certification Center of the Philippines, one of only two certification bodies in the country, that will attest that their products are geniunely organic.

AsAPP-OA also aims to cut the middle men in the supply chain so that they can sell the products directly to consumers at lower prices.

LGU SUPPORT

Padilla also said local government units have become receptive to their advocacy.

Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez is among those supporting the campaign to increase patronage of organic goods.

Meanwhile, Dalisay Moya, officer-in-charge provincial agriculturist, lauded the superior quality of the group’s products and their back-to-basics farming approach.

“I admire you (organic farming practitioners) because you have romancing moments with your plants and other goods,” Moya said.—Tita Roces

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