ORGANIC. A farmer makes fertilizer out of organic matter in Sogod, Southern Leyte in this undated photo. The Department of Agriculture is pushing for the practice of organic farming in Eastern Visayas in response to the rising prices of fertilizers and growing demand for healthier food.(Photo courtesy of DA-8) TACLOBAN CITY - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the practice of organic farming in Eastern Visayas in response to the rising prices of fertilizers and growing demand for healthier food. During the regional organic agriculture congress here on Wednesday, DA 8 (Eastern Visayas) Executive Director Angel Enriquez said promoting organic farming is part of food security. "We could go into balanced fertilization but we must take into consideration the production of healthy foods. It is challenging but let us continue this enthusiasm," Enriquez said during the event. In the past years, the organic farming program has been focusing on the enhancement of product
PROTECTED. Lettuce grown inside an intelligent green box set up on a farm in Tacloban City . A group of farmers here is reaping the benefits of this modern farming, ensuring quality harvest of high-value crops regardless of the season.(PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano) TACLOBAN CITY - A group of farmers here is reaping the benefits of modern farming using an intelligent green box, ensuring quality harvest of high-value crops regardless of the season. Through indoor farming, the 32-member La Granja Farmers and Agriventures Association has been harvesting at least 180 kilograms of fresh lettuce weekly for the requirement of high-end restaurants in this city and some parts of Samar. "We are assured of continuous supply whatever comes. I am giving our buyers safe, clean, and nutritious food. This is a very good technology," said Martina Reyna, farmer owner of La Granja based in Diit village here, on Thursday. Dubbed the Intelligent Green Box (IGB), it is a vertical farming method of