Organic Products from Maribojoc Help Increase Farmers’ Income

The Bohol Organic Farm had been frequently visited by local businessmen from Cebu and Leyte to book weekly orders of organic chicken, one of the emerging features of local restaurants, that is now making Bohol a rising source of organic foodstuff in the region.

Maribojoc town Mayor Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. said they could initially deliver 300 heads of organic chicken to Cebu and Leyte.

“Mao lang una ni karon ang atong ikahatag initially sa ilang order kay dyutay pa man ang atong stock”, said Mayor Evasco, who also aims financial benefit for his constituents through organic farming.

Maribojoc town mayor Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. explains before the members of Cebu and Bohol media how organic farming works during the Media Tour and Learning Visit initiated by the Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 last June 13-14, 2014. (Contributed Photo from DA-7)

Mayor Evasco are among those who initiated the establishment of the farm that, aside from producing organic chicken, also engaged in organic rice farming. Evasco said that during the two-day “Tabo sa DA” inside the Department of Agriculture (DA)7 compound in Mandaue City recently, their 100 bags of organic rice were all consumed. The mayor said this proves that consumers really want organic food nowadays.

In his lecture during the Media Tour and learning Visit in Bohol sponsored by the DA7, Evasco explained that the organic farm was established two years ago in Maribojoc where encouraged his constituents, especially those owners of 4-hectare lands, to undergo organic farm training. After the training , Evasco said everybody started to clean up their farms, planted forage and built houses intended for chicken, pigs, goats, cows and other traditional farm animals.

They also build a vermiculture building where all wastes from animals are dumped and converted as vermi foods. They planted forages such as legumes and grasses for animal feeds.

Evasco said that if all people will just learn how to maintain an organic farm and its products, there will be no problems about health.

“As we all know, organic foods can help our body system be immune from any kinds of human diseases”, Evasco said.

The farm was funded through the P2 million cash prize won by the municipality being a two-time Clean and Green awardee in 2010 and 2012. The contest has P1 million cash prize per year, Evasco said.

“Kay naa man sa balaod nga matag tuig abalohon sa kagamhanan ang matag lungsod sa Pilipinas diin matag modaug gantihan og tag P1 million”, he said.

The mayor said they utilized the money by directly paying cash to all the services and materials for the farm.

“Ah kining amo usa lang ka attempt nga kami ang mahimong supplier sa organic foods ngadto sa upat ka lalawigan sa Central Visayas,” Evasco said.

The local chief executive attributed his experience in organic farming during his stint in Davao City before he entered government service. Before he became the mayor of his birthplace in Maribojoc, he used to be a priest in Davao.

He said that when he became mayor, he invited all people in his municipality to practice organic farming. Evasco, who is in his last term, said he is praying that whoever replaces him could maintain the farm and let it grow bigger.