ASIA RE-DISCOVERS ORGANIC AGRICULTURE FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION (Angelina Briones)
ASIA RE-DISCOVERS ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Angelina M. Briones, PhD.
MASIPAG (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), masipag@mozcom.com
Asian culture in the past evolved farming in harmony with nature. Mystical traditions manifested people’s respect for nature; there was culture in agriculture. All these became practically extinct over vast lands put under modern farming for the last 50 years. But organic farming, as we know today, has built upon that age-old care for the soil and biodiversity. It is what we now call as concern for agroecosystem health. Respect for nature permeates the framework of sustainability of organic agriculture. Unknown to people in the past, their mystical traditions have been consistent with the necessity of maintaining environmental quality. But being rooted on tradition does not mean that organic agriculture is backward agriculture. Organic agriculture has been imbibing selectively from discoveries and advances of science. Why merely imbibing? This is so because research agenda of public institutions have not addressed the needs of organic production. Without scientific breakthroughs, organic production cannot move up the extent of its contribution to world’s sustainable development. If so, why do we remain as peripheral watchers on the works of science? Why are we contented on selectively adapting what we perceive as relevant to organic production? This is a challenge that arose from a myth or false notion that organic agriculture (OA) is backward. Briefly, the following sections list two sets of myths: myths as false notions by those who neither practice nor appreciate organic farming and myths as expressions of the ideals of practitioners.
False-Notion Myths
OA is backward agriculture.
OA depends on animal manures; farm produce are loaded with pathogens.
OA is agriculture by neglect.
OA will impoverish and starve the nation.
OA needs no intensive research.
OA is restrictive
FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Angelina M. Briones, PhD.
MASIPAG (Farmer-Scientist Partnership for Development), masipag@mozcom.com
Asian culture in the past evolved farming in harmony with nature. Mystical traditions manifested people’s respect for nature; there was culture in agriculture. All these became practically extinct over vast lands put under modern farming for the last 50 years. But organic farming, as we know today, has built upon that age-old care for the soil and biodiversity. It is what we now call as concern for agroecosystem health. Respect for nature permeates the framework of sustainability of organic agriculture. Unknown to people in the past, their mystical traditions have been consistent with the necessity of maintaining environmental quality. But being rooted on tradition does not mean that organic agriculture is backward agriculture. Organic agriculture has been imbibing selectively from discoveries and advances of science. Why merely imbibing? This is so because research agenda of public institutions have not addressed the needs of organic production. Without scientific breakthroughs, organic production cannot move up the extent of its contribution to world’s sustainable development. If so, why do we remain as peripheral watchers on the works of science? Why are we contented on selectively adapting what we perceive as relevant to organic production? This is a challenge that arose from a myth or false notion that organic agriculture (OA) is backward. Briefly, the following sections list two sets of myths: myths as false notions by those who neither practice nor appreciate organic farming and myths as expressions of the ideals of practitioners.
False-Notion Myths
OA is backward agriculture.
OA depends on animal manures; farm produce are loaded with pathogens.
OA is agriculture by neglect.
OA will impoverish and starve the nation.
OA needs no intensive research.
OA is restrictive