LAGAWE, Ifugao – – All roads certainly lead to Lagawe on May 25.
An interactive forum on organic farming has been scheduled on this day. Venue is the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan at the provincial capitol building.
Officers of organic farmers organizations in the province’s 11 towns are attending to share their views as well as listen to insights and updates of distinguished resource speakers.
The all-important activity of the legislative wing of the provincial government was initiated by Board Member James Frederick Dulnuan.
“It is so important to interact with the organic farmers of Ifugao in order to know their sentiments on key issues affecting them and for us, at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to respond positively to their needs,” Board Member Dulnuan said.
In an exclusive interview with the Zigzag Weekly, Board Member Dulnuan- who is also engaged in farming in Aguinaldo town, express his readiness and willingness to assist organic farming practitioners and beneficiaries in and out of the confines of the legislative mill.
“First and foremost, their welfare is at stake,” he asserted.
“Alibis and excuses for not attending to their needs and wants, to my mind, are simply unacceptable,” he said. “Absolutely unthinkable,” he quickly added and stressed in a lengthy interview at his office.
While a number of former and incumbent officials in the province loudly professed their fate in organic farming, major legislated actions to give organic farming heads-up boost hardly have taken place. An organic farming code is the sole feat of the legislature. In many parts of Ifugao, organic farming is still in the infancy stage. Yet, organic farmers are creative and hardworking. They continue to speak proudly of their produce and recount memorable experiences in the fields.
Ifugao’s main industry is still agriculture. Low productivity in the agriculture sector is well-pronounced. Thus, farmers are poor. Inability to accept the need for mechanized farming is a major concern.
Discussion of major issues revolving in the field of organic farming provides a rare opportunity to all stakeholders to finally broaden the perspective of drawing up a genuine and comprehensive road map in upgrading the conditions of all those involved in this productive endeavor uniquely known for non-usage of pesticides. Pesticides, herbicides and other harmful substances are not only hazardous to the environment but also cause cancer, birth defects, asthma and allergies, endocrine problems and brain function dysfunction As there is also a pressing need to devise a masterplan geared on updated and latest know-how in order to offset dismal output level brought forth by backward notions and practices.
For organic farming to finally spin-off the ground, it’s time for organic farmers and beneficiaries be given a greater hand, bigger voice in the decision-making process. Among a hundred and one ways of doing it, consultation with them on a regular basis, is a must-do parallel action that should be strongly required.
For all intents and purposes, feeling their pulses is the first step. Henceforth, a broad-based forum as this one is of paramount importance.
Known for his ability to address the people’s problems, Board Member Dulnuan conceptualized the idea of holding this forum to bring organic farming into greater heights. He crystallized that more enthusiasts shall come from every village and from every economic and social strata.
Staging the forum here could only mean that the proponent wanted to draw national and regional attention. Asked for the rationale of the project, Dulnuan said this would provide synergies with exciting developments of organic farming. Something tells many, however, this is a reminder that the provincial government should invest heavily on organic farming to achieve inclusive growth and it will be Governor Pedro Mayam-o’s greatest challenge yet. **By Anthony A. Araos
