NegOr farmers told: Go organic
THE Negros Oriental Provincial Agriculture office is urging farmers in the province to adopt organic farming to boost the supply of chemical-free vegetables.
Provincial agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca noted that the incidence of malnourished children in the province persists despite a surplus of vegetables.
Paltinca said that one of the causes of malnutrition is consumption of chemically-grown crops such as rice, corn and vegetables.
Negros Oriental has long been sufficient in vegetable production but not all farmers have opted to go organic.
“About 50 percent of the farmers in the province have gone into organic farming,” he said.
The agriculturist said that organically-grown vegetables are more nutritious and even quoted the province’s international organic consultant Nick Perlas, who said that deep-rooted trees absorb the 48 elements found in the soil that are need by plants.
“The roots bring the nutrients to its leaves. Once the leaves fall as dry leaves, they will decompose and from them these elements are available,” explained Paltinca.
