Organic Farming: Feeding the World Without Destroying It

Organic farming helps mitigate climate change and play a huge part in environmental protection.

Through the years, conventional farming has contributed to the degradation of the environment. The abundance of the food produced through conventional farming has frequently come at a cost. Usual pesticides, fertilizers, and other harmful chemicals have been contaminating the air, soil, fresh water, and marine habitats. 

At present, organic farming has been addressing these concerns. Farmers now have sufficient harvests and financial success, and at the same time, they are able to protect themselves and the environment.

Bernabe ‘Nonoy’ Baya, a champion in sustainable farming for over 16 years, believes that advocating for organic farming is also advocating for the welfare of the planet and the people living in it. 

“In organic farming, all inputs applied for production come from natural materials. It’s chemical-free, and no synthetic fertilizers are used,” Nonoy said. “Organic farming is an advocacy. It requires a lot of patience. Not everyone is convinced yet, but those who successfully transitioned have become prosperous.” 

Nonoy is the technical staff of the Foundation for Agrarian Reform Cooperatives in Mindanao (FARMCOOP), a co-partner for Project GROW. This project aims to establish and sustain an organic farm that is profitable and safe for the farmers of the Nueva Visayas Agrarian Reform Cooperative (NUVIARCO) and other agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Mawab, Davao de Oro. Nonoy leads the capacity building and education in organic production.

Environmental Impacts of Agriculture 

There is a growing awareness that many conventional farming systems are unsustainable. It often poses a threat to both the environment and to the farmers’ main source of income. Its unintended environmental effects include soil erosion, water pollution, groundwater depletion, the loss of natural ecosystems, and the extinction of species. 

In recent years, using  inorganic fertilizers in intensive farm production has become a defining characteristic of Philippine farming systems. Although insecticides and fertilizers benefit crop protection and enhance crop output, there are certain drawbacks.

Overusing these inputs lowers the humus content of the soil, which has a negative impact on its infiltration and water holding capabilities. The loss of these two essential soil properties causes the soil to become loose and more prone to erosion. 

“The environment, especially the ozone layer, is being destroyed with conventional farming’s use of chemicals that do not degrade. If this is not stopped, the environment will really be destroyed and the time will come when the world will no longer be livable,” Nonoy said. 

Moreover, the use of fertilizer and pesticides also poses various health issues to the people planting and eating the crops. 

He added, “Conventional farming is a hazard to humans especially since the synthetic chemicals are absorbed by plants. It becomes a harmful chemical residue that people eat. This all the more highlights the importance of switching to organic.”

Organic Farming Communities in the Philippines 

FARMCOOP prides itself as an instrument that helps build sustainable farmer cooperatives.

In 2005, they started the organic farming venture in the highland tribal village of Sibulan, Davao City. Currently, FARMCOOP empowers thousands of coconut farmers and teaches them organic cultivation and agroforestry for the local and export markets.

In cooperation with IDEALS and Voice, FARMCOOP works under Project GROW as a vehicle towards building a sustainable community for NUVIARCO. Nonoy leads the capacity building and education in organic production that are consistent with their concern for the environment and human health for the member-farmers.

Through Project GROW, NUVIARCO farmers along with other Nueva Visayas ARBs utilize farming methods and tools to bring about an agriculture business that is safe for the environment and the farmers’ health.

All over the Philippines, organic farming communities are now slowly emerging and are harvesting their hard work. Nonoy proudly cited a few places in Mindanao that prospered because of their organic crops.

Nonoy shared that several communities in Davao that transitioned to organic farming have become successful. One of them is Sibulan. The LGU of Davao City has credited all their products as locally certified organic. There are also farming communities in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, that export organic coco sugar to Texas, America. Because of their international market, they convinced other farms in their area to produce organic coco sugar and other byproducts of organic coconut like biscuits and cookies.

This is the dream for NUVIARCO. Currently, they are working towards organic certification in order for them to be known as an organic crop production community. There will be a thorough auditing, investigation, and inspection done by the certifying body starting this month. The certification and accreditation will be the basis that the product produced by NUVIARCO is truly organic. 

According to Nonoy, “Here at NUVIARCO, what we are doing is not just for a local market. We are aiming to target the potential markets in Japan and Europe for NUVIARCO’s organic products, especially their cardava bananas.”

Supporting Farmers to Build Resilience

Nonoy stated that FARMCOOP, IDEALS, and Voice play the important role of organizing, facilitating, and coordinating. However, it is crucial they let the beneficiaries take the lead. 

He said that empowering beneficiaries in this space ensures that interventions are sustainables while giving value to rural communities.

According to Nonoy, “They are interested because there is a market. They are really market-driven. But there are also those who are a bit hesitant. They are afraid of complicating their production.”

Nonoy hopes that more farmers will understand the delayed gratification in organic farming. He admits that it is hard work but it is sustainable. 

“A lot of farmers don’t know how to do it. It requires a lot of patience because it really is a slow conversion,” he said. 

Nonoy emphasized how crucial it is to start at school. Children should be oriented towards organic food because many don’t understand organic anymore. 

He added that there are only a few organic products in the market because Filipinos are not aware enough. Nonoy expressed his worry that Filipinos today don’t care that they are eating food saturated with chemicals as long as there is something to eat.

“I hope that we can further inculcate in the minds of consumers how important health is. Because the first thing that is affected in the food we eat is our health.” He continues, “Financial and education, these are the two areas we need the most support on so that Filipinos can have advocacy for organic farming. Organic is an advocacy.” #