How Organic Agriculture is Beneficial in the Promotion of

Organic Farming

As the trend towards healthier lifestyle continues to grow, the interest in organic
farming in the Philippines is also expeditiously gaining ground. According to the local
organic group Organic Producers Trade Association (OPTA), the risk of consuming non-
organic food is becoming more perilous to human health as high-yielding agri-produce
or the so-called “green revolution crops” developed in the province of Los Banos—one
of the country’s major agricultural research hubs—have been identified as one of the
causes of brain damage particularly resulting to impaired intellect to people in poor or
third world countries. (Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, 2012)
According to Adamchack (2021) Organic Farming is an agricultural system that
uses ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from
animal and plant wastes and nitrogen-fixing cover crops. Modern organic farming was
developed as a response to the environmental harm caused using chemical pesticides
and synthetic fertilizers in conventional agriculture, and it has numerous ecological
benefits.
It may be deemed as unconventional but also undeniably beneficial in terms of
promoting a healthier lifestyle especially for the Philippines. The Department of
Agriculture listed down the Top 5 reasons why Organic Agriculture can contribute to the
promotion of organic farming in the Philippines.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) takes the lead in implementing the National
Organic Agriculture Program spearheaded by the National Organic Agriculture Board
(NOAB) through the cooperation of various stakeholders of the organic industry,
relevant national government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society and
people’s organizations. The program serves as the guide for the implementation of OA
activities under DA and its implementing units. The NOAP envisions the OA sector
contributing to the country’s over-all agricultural growth and development, in terms of
sustainability, competitiveness and food security, where at least five percent (5%) of the
Philippine agricultural land practice organic farming; and, where consumers both
national and international increasingly support Philippine organic food products.

The first one is that it will produce better farm incomes and sustainable
livelihood. Increased farm productivity, reduced expenses on external farm inputs,
better incomes for farmers and reduction of poverty in the rural sector. Certification
processes should be attuned to the interest of the small farmers to make it more
economical to go into organic farming. (Cabigas, 2012) If these measures are
immediately done, Cabigas said organic supply would surely increase and these would
drive down prices that would encourage people to buy.
 The second reason states that it is to lead to Improved health. Protected health
of farmers, consumers and the public in general. Organic products reduce public health
risks to farm workers, their families, and consumers by minimizing their exposure to
toxic and persistent chemicals on the farm and in food, the soil in which they work and
play, the air they breathe, and the water they drink. Children are especially vulnerable to
pesticides. Thus, offering organic food and fiber products into the marketplace gives
parents the option of choosing products produced without the use of these toxins.
(Haumann, 2020)

Environmental protection. Enhanced soil fertility and farm biodiversity, reduced

pollution, and destruction of the environment as well as prevention of further depletion
of natural resources. Organic agriculture contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effect
and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil. The more organic
carbon is retained in the soil, the more the mitigation potential of agriculture against
climate change is higher. These are just some of the many environmental benefits of
organic agriculture. (FAO, 2021)

Disaster risk reduction and resilience to Climate Change. Improved

resiliency to disaster risks and climate change vulnerabilities caused by human
interventions and naturally induced hazards. Still stated by FAO (2021) Organic
agriculture reduces non-renewable energy use by decreasing agrochemical needs
(these require high quantities of fossil fuel to be produced). Many management
practices used by organic agriculture (e.g. minimum tillage, returning crop residues to
the soil, the use of cover crops and rotations, and the greater integration of nitrogen-
fixing legumes), increase the return of carbon to the soil, raising productivity and
favoring carbon storage.

Lastly is social justice. Meeting the basic material needs and improving
standard of living for all, upholding human rights, gender equality, labor standards, and
the right to self-determination. Organic agriculture should build on relationships that
ensure fairness about the common environment and life opportunities. Fairness is
characterized by equity, respect, justice, and stewardship of the shared world, both
among people and in their relations to other living beings. This principle emphasizes
that those involved in organic agriculture should conduct human relationships in a
manner that ensures fairness at all levels and to all parties – farmers, workers,
processors, distributors, traders, and consumers. (Henderson, 2010)

These are just a few positive reasons deemed beneficial for organic farming.
Who knows how many others there will be in the future. This just goes to show that we
should all consider a healthier lifestyle by supporting the growth of organic agriculture.
References:

Henderson J. (2010). Reviving Social Justice in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture.

Retrieved from: https://fairworldproject.org/reviving-social-justice-in-sustainable-and-
organic-agriculture/

Department of Agriculture (2021). ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PROGRAM. Retrieved

from: https://rfo3.da.gov.ph/organic-agriculture-program/

Far Eastern Agriculture. (2012). Organic farming: The future of Philippine agriculture.
Retrieved from: https://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/organic-
farming-the-future-of-philippine-agriculture

Adamchak R. (2021). Organic Farming. Retrieved from:

https://www.britannica.com/topic/organic-farming

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2021). What are the
environmental benefits of organic agriculture? Retrieved from:
https://www.fao.org/organicag/oa-faq/oa-faq6/en/

Haumann B. (2020). Health Benefits of Organic. Retrieved from:

https://ota.com/organic-101/health-benefits-organic