๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ| ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐- Pormal nang binuksan kahapon, Marso 21, 2023 sa University of Southern Mindanao (USM), Kabacan Cotabato ang apat na araw na 17th National Organic Agriculture Congress (NOAC).
Ang pagbubukas ay pinangunahan ni Office of the Special Assistant to the President Undersecretary Joana Paula Domingo na siyang naging kinatawan ni Pangulo at DA Secretary Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
Sa kanyang mensahe, inihayag ni Undersecretary Domingo na ipinapaabot ng pangulo ang kanyang kagalakan sa pagsasagawa ng nasabing pagtitipon na ayon sa kanya ay mahalaga upang matugunan ang ilang problemang kinakaharap ngayon ng sektor ng agrikultura.
Binigyang diin nito na ang pagsusulong ng organikong pagsasaka ay isa sa mga paraan upang mapangalagaan ang kalikasan at masolusyunan ang kakulangan sa pagkain.
โThe promotion of organic agriculture is one of the most holistic solutions that we find feasible in addressing the challenges to both food security and sustainability and environmental conservation,โ ayon pa kay Domingo.
Suportado naman ni Governor Emmylou โLalaโ Taliรฑo Mendoza ang naturang aktibidad at sinabing, โWhile there is a need to ensure adequate food supply, it has been proven by actual experience including here in the province of Cotabato that Organic Agriculture could not only boost production but ensure sustainability as well.โ
Nagpasalamat din ang gobernadora sa DA-Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) sa ilalim ng programa nitong Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Component sa ipinamahagi nitong P21,536,000 na farm machineries na kinabilalangan 11 units of Combine Rice Harvester at 2 units Riding Transplanter na mapapakinabangan ng 13 farmers organization mula sa bayan ng Pigcawayan, Pikit, Libungan, Makilala, Kabacan, Matalam, Mโlang Tulunan, President Roxas at Midsayap.
Umaasa ito na ang ipinamahaging makinarya ay makakatulong lalo na sa pagpapataas ng ani at kita ng mga magsasakang Cotabateรฑo.
Dumalo rin sa nasabing congress si International Federation Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM) Asia Inc. Executive Director Jennifer Chang, National Organic Agriculture Director Bernadette F. San Juan, DA Regional Executive Director Sailila E. Abdullah, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary L. De Leon, PHilmech Interim Director for Operations Joel V. Dator, USM President Francisco Gil Garcia, Kabacan Mayor Evangeline P. Guzman, mga opisyal ng ibaโt ibang ahensya , researchers at mga organic farmers.//idcd-pgo-sotto/photobcreditSMNanini//
