Philippine Organic Agriculture

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Philippine Organic Farming

Revolutionizing Agriculture with

Systems Thinking

Robert Ian Maranon

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What is Organic Farming?

Organic farming is the production of cropsand livestock without the use of syntheticchemicals and in-organic fertilizers.

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What is Organic Farming?

a production system which avoids or largelyexcludes the use of syntheticallycompounded fertilizers, pesticides, growthregulators, and livestock feed additives.

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What is Conventional Agriculture?

Conventional agriculture uses pesticides,

herbicides, fungicides, and harmful chemicals

to produce the food we eat.

Farming systems dependent on the input ofartificial fertilizers and/or pesticides

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What is Conventional Agriculture?

Rapid technological innovation

Large capital investments and large-scale farms Single crops/row crops grown continuously over

many seasons

Extensive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and externalenergy inputs

High labor efficiency

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Impact on Health

The Economic and Social Research Council,USDA, published a report in April 2000 sayingthat a combination of high tech crops,pollution and soil erosion are affecting the

intelligence of millions of people.

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Impact on Health

High yielding rice called green revolutioncrops developed in Los Baos are now

named as one of the causes of brain damage

especially impaired intellect in third world

countries.

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Impact on Health

International studies have likewise shownthat chemical-infused crops have resulted in

cancer, hormone disruption, neurological

disorders and other life-threatening illnesses.

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Impact on Health

Farm workers are poisoned in fields

Toxic residues found on food Certain human and animal diseases have

developed resistance to currently used

antibiotics.

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Environmental Impact

Decline in soil productivity

Salinization of soils and irrigation water inirrigated farming areas.

Desertification due to overgrazing

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Agriculture is the largest single non-point

source of water pollutants. Pesticides havebeen detected in groundwater in agriculturalareas

Eutrophication and dead zones due tonutrient runoff affect many rivers, lakes, andoceans.

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Reduced water quality impacts agricultural

production, drinking water supplies, andfishery production.

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Water scarcity due to overuse of surface and

ground water for irrigation

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Increased resistance to pesticides

Loss of Biodiversity

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Agricultures link to global climate change is

just beginning to be appreciated.

Destruction of tropical forests for agricultural

production has a role in elevated levels ofcarbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

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Enacted Laws in Organic Farming

As the trend towards healthier lifestylecontinues to grow, the interest in organicfarming in the Philippines is alsoexpeditiously gaining ground.

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Although the Philippines has not resorted tocompletely ban the use of syntheticchemicals in farming, the country is set to goall natural in agriculture through Republic Act10068.

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Republic Act 10068 or Organic AgricultureAct of 2010 aims to strengthen the statespolicy to promote, propagate, developfurther and implement the practice of organicagriculture.

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Birth Pains of Organic Farming

Local farming community is yet to totallyembrace organic agriculture.

The use of chemical inputs in farmingguarantees sure harvests

There isnt much economic inducement forfarmers to organic.

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Case Study

Comparative Economic Study of Organicand Conventional Rice Farming in

Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur

Rubinos, R., Jalipa, A., Bayacag, P. (2007)

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Case Study

Comparative Economic Study of Organicand Conventional Rice Farming in

Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur

Rubinos, R., Jalipa, A., Bayacag, P. (2007)

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Case Study

Most organic farmers have lesser monthlyincome compared to conventional ricefarmers

Organic farmers have to increase theirseeding rate and reduce labor to increaseoutput

Conventional farmers should increasepesticides and labor to increase their output

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Case Study

Organic rice farming is as profitable asconventional rice farming.

Even though it might have lower yield andgross returns, it also has lower total cost.

Price for organic rice is higher thanconventionally grown rice.

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Conclusion

Applying Systems Thinking, ConventionalFarming is not sustainable, a totally wrongsystem.

Organic Farming is profitable and can be theFuture of Philippine Agriculture if properly

understood.

Whether the current efforts of governmentwill be successful, only time will truly tell.

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Recommendation

It is time also for everyone to recognize thatwe cant leave everything to government.

If we wish the agriculture sector to grow inimportance, then we all have to do our sharein helping farmers.

Take a stand and advocate!

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Documents

Philippine Organic Agriculture