More and more places are getting interested in natural farming, i.e., the production of agricultural crops and farm animals without the use of synthetic chemicals in the case of plants, and antibiotics in fish, livestock and poultry.

One of the latest to join the organic bandwagon is Tarlac which launched last year its “Natural Tarlac” program that promotes the production of organic food products provincewide.

The program was launched in October last year by Gov. Victor A. Yap who believes in the potentials of producing organic food products. The organic food products are more healthful and could also be more profitable for the farmers, considering the high cost of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics today.

Last Saturday, we had occasion to meet Edwina Tabamo, provincial agriculturist, and Lucrecia G. Ilaga, former provincial agriculturist and now a consultant of the province on agricultural matters. They said that even before the launching of Natural Tarlac, many farmers have been producing organically grown food products.

Edwina says mushroom is one organic produce that is grown in big volumes in the towns of San Jose, Gerona, Paniqui, Bamban and Pura. The fresh mushrooms are now being
sold in supermarkets and in public markets. Edwina reports that Christian Yap of San Jose has already started producing dried mushrooms so that when there is an oversupply of production, the surplus could be processed.

Papaya and bananas are also grown organically. Vice Mayor Reynaldo Modomo of Sta. Ignacia has planted no less than 1,000 Red Lady papaya trees in the family’s farm in San Berga, Tarlac City. There, he also raises organically-grown tilapia. Also producing organically grown papayas, bananas and vegetables are Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan of Capas, and Dante Buscayno of the same town. A well known trader distributing fruits in Metro Manila is buying most of their production.

Goats for meat and milk are also popular in Tarlac, and raisers from Tarlac City like Angie Mendoza and Jeffry Lim of Gerona are raising their animals the organic way. In Paniqui and Victoria, sugarcane farmers are producing muscovado sugar and organic vinegar. These are sold in bulk to traders in Manila and Cebu.

Farmers in Capas and Mayantoc are also into organic rice production now. And in Paniqui, Leonardo Antonio is producing organic pork.