R-10’s organic agri proposals undergo deliberation

 

MANOLO FORTICH, BUKIDNON — Aimed at strengthening and empowering existing organic practitioners’ and farmers’ groups, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) through the Organic Agriculture (OA) program hosted the conduct on the finalization and deliberation of Organic Agriculture Livelihood Project (OALP) proposals for FY 2024-2026 recipients from February 25 to 28, in Dahilayan, here.

The activity sought to assess and discuss the different ideas and plans of the attending five farmers’ cooperatives, associations (FCAs) together with the assisting local government units (LGUs), as contained in the project proposals in implementing OALPs.

Per Memorandum Circular No. 45, Series of 2022, the OALP serve as a business integrator for organic farms, supporting input producers and suppliers, providing farm services, and acting as the consolidator and marketing arm for organic produce and products.

Invited were Malou Deriquito-Yasona, Development Management Officer III , and Lois Daniel Jacela, Project Development Officer I of the national OA program, who served as resource speakers and panelists for the said activity, promoting for a common understanding among the participants on project planning and aligning all efforts toward scaling-up organic agriculture in Northern Mindanao.

Drawing from the team’s expertise, the initiative is seen to thoroughly review the various aspects of the submitted proposals, considering their opportunities and challenges, with input from the concerned FCAs and the support of their respective LGUs.

Representatives from the LGUs of Bukidnon province, Malaybalay City, and Magsaysay town, and farmers from the Malaybalay City Organic Farmers’ Association (MACOFA), Mindulao Farmers Agrarian Reform Multipurpose Cooperative (MINFARCO), Bahandi sa Bukid Association (BUKAS), Balingasag Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (BISA), and the Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese were in attendance.# (MAC/Photos supplied)