Farmers’ cooperatives in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are seen to improve their productivity and revenue after receiving interventions from the region’s agriculture office.

On Wednesday, 22 different farmers’ cooperatives in the BARMM areas of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, and 63 villages in North Cotabato have received organic inputs and chemical supplies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) during ceremonies at the MAFAR covered court here.

Other BARMM component areas set to receive the same farm inputs soon are the cities of Marawi and Lamitan, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

The activity marked the culmination of the 7th Organic Agriculture Month in November this year.

The celebration, with the theme “Organikong Pagsasaka, Sagot sa Pandemiya,” is an annual activity that aims to promote the practice of organic agriculture nationwide, as a farm system, being considered as an effective tool for development, environmental conservation, and health protection of farmers, consumers, and the general public.

Tong Abas, MAFAR chief of operation for agriculture services, said the distributed inputs, amounting to PHP846,374, were funded through the 2021 General Appropriations Act for the Bangsamoro (GAAB), and included organic fertilizers, sweet potato cuttings, ginger, molasses, and foliar fertilizers.

Abas said distributing organic inputs to the farmer cooperatives is part of MAFAR’s strategy to promote and encourage organic farming in the region.

“To help promote environmental protection, we want our farmers to practice organic farming in their respective areas using high-value crops, especially during this time of pandemic because they could earn income from it,” Abas said.

“Several farmers saved their livelihood using organic farming as their alternative or main source of income such as planting upland rice, vegetables, and spices, among others during this time of difficulties,” he added.

Talapas Integrated Organic Farmers Association in Datu Montawal, and Malony Tulawi of Greenland Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Upi, both in Maguindanao, have thanked MAFAR and vowed to take care of the intervention and ensure improved productivity in the coming days. (PNA)