In these times when organic foods are increasingly gaining approval among health-conscious people, more and more farmers are going into organic production.

For the farmer-members of the Kilolog Multi-Purpose Farmers Cooperative (KIMFACO) in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, producing organic rice has become very rewarding as they have not only found a sure market for their produce, but likewise preserve the well-being of the people in the community. That is because they have already withdrawn from the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in rice farming which pose health and environmental hazards.

With the initiative from the local government unit of Magsaysay in partnership with Don Bosco Diocesan Youth Center, Inc. and with the grant aid from the Canadian Government, organic rice production was proposed in 2002 as one of the flagship projects under Magsaysays Sustainable Agriculture Program.

Commercial production of organic rice took off in 2003 when initial harvests were sold at the community level. At first there was difficulty in introducing organic rice to the consumers due to its higher price (current price is P40 per kilo). Again with the assistance from LGU, organic rice was repackaged and was given the brand name MagRice, which stands for Magsaysay Rice.

HOW MAGRICE IS PRODUCED
MagRice, as claimed, is organically grown by the farmer-partners in the community. Carlos C. Ortiz, program manager, says that farmers adopt biodynamic and Korean natural farming methods and preparations by using indigenous materials and preparations. These include milk and honey spray, detoxified rice seeds, natural minerals, composts and herbs.

Milk and honey spray, according to Ortiz, is traditionally used by farmers in European and Western countries for their orchard. Here in the Philippines, it is the first time that milk and honey spray is used for rice production, he said. The concoction can attract natural enemies in the field, improves aroma and grain quality, and claimed to make the grains heavier.

On one hand, the use of detoxified rice seeds (seeds produced from third to sixth croppings) is aimed to make sure that the resulting crops will be free from the traces of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. The farmers carefully practice roguing or elimination of mixes to preserve the purity of the seeds. Only the traditional inbred varieties from International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are planted by farmer-partners.

Relatively, measures are adopted to prevent contamination of the crops. One of which is building buffer zones by planting vegetables along the paddies and constructing canalets at every boundary.

The farmers were also taught on soil nutrient management and development. They practice composting and making organic fertilizers right at their own farm. They also apply natural minerals such as crystal quarts to meet the mineral requirement of the crops.

Korean technologies such as the use of fish amino acid, plant enzymes and juices to supplement nutrients are continuously practiced.

GOOD YIELD
By adopting the recommended technology for MagRice, yield stands at three to 4.5 tons per hectare (t/ha) for farmers who are first time in organic rice farming, and 5 to 5.5 t/ha for those who are into organic farming for quite a longer time.

DEMAND IS INCREASING
On the average, 50 bags of MagRice are sold in every outlet per month. Currently, there are two authorized distributors of MagRice in Magsaysay. The demand increases during lean seasons when some of the consumers turn to organic rice for their rice requirements.

One typical problem encountered in organic rice production is the low supply. To address this, farmer-partners are being encouraged to sell their produce directly to the co-op to maximizc their profit. The farmers are insured of good price for their organic palay which is bought at a higher price per kilo.

At present, there are approximately 3,000 rice farmers in Magsaysay. Out of this number, 143 farmers are into organic farming.

MARKETING
One marketing strategy developed for MagRice is selling it at the government and private offices. LGU Magsaysay also continuously promotes MagRice by attending trade fairs in the province and nearby provinces. And it did not take long before MagRice became one of the bestsellers in these trade fairs.

MagRice is available in 2, 5, 25 and 50-kilogram packaging. One can choose from aromatic rice, long grain softy white rice, red rice and fancy rice.

If you have information about the way conventional foods are grown then you definitely are going to see the many benefits from those that are organic in nature. The fact that only natural items are used for the planting, care, and harvesting of the food is very important when it comes to organic foods. To get rid of pests and weeds there are people that trap these animals and that pull the weeds. The land used for the planting of the crops is rotated as well so that there is a chance for the soil to get better.

This is a vital part of successful organic food farming due to the fact that the nutrients in the soil are so often depleted during conventional processing methods. You may be wondering what is used for fertilizer for organic foods. The use of compost that comes from leaves, manure, food remains, and other natural items are used to give the soil what it needs for the crops to grow.

Keep in mind that there are many foods out there that contain some form of organic materials but not enough for them to be certified as organic. Those differences are significant so don’t overlook that information. To be certified there must be at least 95% organic material. These guidelines are set by the USDA and they have many evaluations that farmers have to follow on a regular basis in order to keep that certification active.

You may want to consider organic foods in the forms of those that come from animals as well. This includes cuts of meat, cream, yogurt, cheese, and eggs. Organic foods in this form are raised without any medications including antibiotics. They are also raised without hormone injections. Their diet consists of only organic items and that means they aren’t full of harmful products when you consume them. They are also raised in more humane conditions so that is an additional benefit.

There will continue to be more choices out there for organic foods in the future. This is one of the fastest growing areas in the food market today. It is also one that is taking place on a global scale as well. While organic foods may not hold more nutritional value for you they can be better for your overall health. They can also help us to protect the environment. Those are things many people would like to see happen so they continue to buy such products.

It is a personal choice though and one you should consider. Weigh the benefits of it along wit your budget and other factors so that you can be happy with your choice. Organically grown foods aren’t something that you should buy because you feel guilty. For many people the high cost of them prevents them from getting as much organic food as they would like to. As better methods can be implemented for such processing though those costs should start to go down. The long term benefits to our environment will be something to evaluate in a decade down the road too thanks to these farming methods.