DA-10 supports the organic agriculture initiative of BISA, an organization of organic farmers and producers based in Balingasag town.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, and leaders of the Balingasag Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (BISA) agreed to explore a common working ground to hype organic agriculture promotion in a meeting on June 5, at the DA-10 Compound, in this city.

BISA is an organization of organic farmers and producers based in Balingasag town, Misamis Oriental who advocates organic farming practices as a way of mitigating the effects of climate change to protect mother earth.

“We visited DA-10 simply to inform the department and Director Pacamalan that an organization of farmers and producers who are into organic practice is existing in Balingasag at the same time, we wanted to know the programs and projects of DA-10 that the organization can avail (as) assistance” said Marlyn F. Tagupa, BISA President.

Tagupa averred their plans and proposals warranted the support of the DA-10. She said a follow through meeting was scheduled by Dir. Pacamalan by the end of the month to validate their production area as potential site for Organic Rice Industry Development Plan.

To scale up the country’s agriculture sector, DA Secretary Francisco Laurel, Jr., recognized the importance of forging strong partnership with the private sector particularly for the expansion of agricultural production areas.

Chona H. Nacalaban, DA-10 Rice Program Focal Person, Marnie S. Suarez of the Organic Agriculture Program, and Engr. Romil G. Española of the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division also attended the meeting to provide technical insights on the undertaking.# (CRS)