2. PRINCIPLES AND
PRACTICES OF ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE
JAP ASENCE
AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN I
CITY AGRICULTURE OFFICE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF NAGA CITY

3. FOOD ISSUES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 The Philippines is largely an agricultural
country.
 Agriculture and agribusiness constitute the
backbone of Philippine economy.
 Food scarcity and lack of access to food in
adequate quantities and of nutritional
value are widespread.

4.  Agribusiness accounts for 71% of the
country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
while primary agriculture and fisheries
contribute about 21%.
 Despite the seeming agricultural
abundance, the Philippines is locked in a
chronic food crisis and food security is
central issue.

7.  These are aggravated by falling incomes,
food production that lags behind
population growth, land tenure issues,
peace and order situations, occurrence of
disaster situations, and lopsided
investment priorities, which are affecting
poverty, hunger and malnutrition

8. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
 Organic farming is the production of
crops and livestock without the use of
synthetic chemicals and in-organic
fertilizers.

9. Principles of Organic Agriculture
 The Principle of Health - Organic
Agriculture should sustain and enhance
the health of soil, plant, animal and human
as one and indivisible.
 The Principle of Ecology - Organic
Agriculture should be based on living
ecological systems and cycles, work with
them, emulate them and help sustain
them.

10.  The Principle of Fairness - Organic
Agriculture should build on relationships
that ensure fairness with regard to the
common environment and life
opportunities.
 The Principle of Care - Organic Agriculture
should be managed in a precautionary
and responsible manner to protect the
health and well being of current and future
generations and the environment.

11. Principles and Aims
1. To produce food of high nutritional
quality in sufficient quantity;
2. To interact in a constructive and life
enhancing way with natural systems
and cycles;
3. To encourage and enhance biological
cycles within the farming systems,
involving micro-organisms, soil flora
and fauna, plants and animals;
4. To promote the healthy use and proper
care of water, water resources and all
life therein;

12. Principles and Aims
5. To enhance the conservation of
soil and water, improve soil
quality and increase soil fertility;
6. To use organic matter and
nutrient elements, within a
closed system;
7. To work with materials and
substances which can be reused
or recycled, either on the farm or
elsewhere;
8. To give all livestock conditions of
life which allow them to perform
the basic aspects of their innate
behavior;

13. Principles and Aims
9. To maintain the genetic diversity
including protection of plant and
wildlife animals;
10. To minimize all forms of
pollution;
11. To allow everyone involved in
organic production and
processing a quality of life;
12. To foster indigenous and
ecological production systems
that can produce adequate, safe
and nutritious food for local
communities

14. Issue of Genetic Diversity

16. Hazards of Industrial AgricultureHazards of Industrial Agriculture
What are the hazards of industrial agriculture?

17. Organic Farming: A GrowingOrganic Farming: A Growing
TrendTrend Consumer demand for organic farming is rising at 20%
per year.
 The highest growth is in Argentina, US, and China.
 People are growing conscious of adverse effects of
industrial agriculture,
where there is a focus on
maximizing profits
at the expense of health
and the environment.
How do you think industrial agriculture contributes to
global warming and water pollution?

18. Health Risks: IndustrialHealth Risks: Industrial MethodsMethods
 Pesticide residues on produce
 remain after washing and peeling.
 have links to cancer.
 Antibiotics we ingest
 from plant and animal sources
 lead to the development of untreatable
superbugs
Do you worry about pesticide residues on or
antibiotics in your food? Explain.

19. Additional Health RisksAdditional Health Risks
 Plant and animal growth hormones
 disrupt endocrine system.
 lead to early puberty.
 Biological engineering
 Unregulated items are
virtually invisible in stores.
 Manipulation of
genetic code could
impact health.
How do you think genetically modified food might
impact your health?

21. Environmental HazardsEnvironmental Hazards
 Environmental hazards comprise air pollution,
global warming, and other problems.
 Synthetic fertilizers
 largest source of nitrous oxide
emissions
 300 times more toxic than carbon
dioxide gases
 will affect air pollution and intensify
global warming if continued
Are you concerned about air pollution in your
country? Why or why not?

22. AuthoritiesAuthorities on Wateron Water
PollutionPollution Animal waste, fertilizers, and pesticides leach into
soil.
 They run off through irrigation and contaminate ground
water (large portion of water supply).
 They contain nitrates, which cause permanent damage
to ground water.
Are you concerned about water pollution in your
country? Why or why not?

23. Dead Zones in OceansDead Zones in Oceans
 Preponderance of nitrogen in fertilizers
 helps crops grow; harms oceans
 generates algal overgrowth
 Algal overgrowth
 depletes oxygen
in water
 no plant or animal
can survive

24. UnsustainableUnsustainable SoilSoil
 Industrial mono-cropping: one crop is planted
repeatedly on a single field.
 The process relies on the use of synthetic fertilizers.
 Mono-cropping kills microorganisms needed to produce
soil nutrients.
 Infertile soil leads to erosion,
unsustainable farmlands,
and reduced biodiversity.
If mono-cropping is destroying farmlands and
biodiversity, what is the alternative?

25. ViciousVicious CycleCycle
 Soil infertility leads to a vicious cycle
of fertilizer use.
 Increasing fertilizer use leads to
environmental hazards.
 Increased use of pesticides
 Only the fittest pests survive.
 Stronger pesticides are then needed.
What are the environmental hazards associated with
the use of pesticides?

26. Crop RotationCrop Rotation
 Holistic farming techniques
 infuse soil with essential nutrients.
 ensure different crops are planted every year.
 vary the nutrient demand in soil.
 create sustainable soil.
How does organic farming affect soil?

27. AnimalAnimal WelfareWelfare
 Small-scale organic farms are
 less likely to confine livestock
to small spaces.
 against the use of antibiotics.
 Free-range farms
 allow animals to roam freely.
 reduce stress and susceptibility
to disease.
How do you feel about confining animals to small
spaces in order to produce food?

28. Advantages
Organic
farming
Fewer
workers
neededFewer
blemishes on
crops
Produce is
cheaper Large numbers of
animals kept in
ideal conditions
Bigger yields
from land
available
Antibiotics use
keeps animals
healthy
Use of
hormones
increases
meat
production
Soil structure is
better
Less harmful
to
environment
More birds
and insects
Animals
lead happier
lives
No harmful
chemicals –
healthier?

29. VERMICOMPOSTING
FACILITY

30. Vermicomposting Facility
 The vermicomposting facility at the City
Nursery started last July, 2011.
 The City currently produces 2 tons of
vermicast per month . The vermicast has
an NPK value of 6.32, classified as an
Organic Fertilizer.
 We started with 7 Kilos of African Night
Crawlers , we now have 60 Kilos.

31. Vermicomposting Facility
 In line with RA 10068 or the Organic Act of
2010, the vermicomposting facility will
support the transition from conventional to
organic practices.
 Our target production for 2013 is 4.0 tons
of vermicast per month.

34. Cabiokid Permaculture Farm in
Cabiao, Nueva Ecija

37. CITY AGRICULTURE OFFICE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF NAGA CITY
J. MIRANDA AVE., CONCEPCION
PEQUEÑA, NAGA CITY.
TEL. # 473.1479
EMAIL: cago@naga.gov.ph
cagonaga@gmail.com