Some 6,000 upland and lowland farmers in the Caraga Region are now into organic farming, the Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region (DA-13) said Thursday.

In a statement, DA-13 said the farmers belong to 138 associations and cooperatives across the region, tending to 27,323 hectares of farmland.

“These farmers involved in organic farming practices are working to achieve the principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care,” the agency said.

The DA-13’s statement came after the conclusion of the two-day Regional Organic Agriculture Congress held in this city on Wednesday.

“The gathering aims to provide the continuing platform to engage the more than 200 organic agriculture practitioners, advocates, and stakeholders, including the representatives from the local government units (LGUs) in the region,” it said.

Through lectures, input, and exchanges of practices and innovations, the congress participants gained new knowledge on organic farming.

The participants, especially the associations and cooperatives, were also encouraged to pursue certification in the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) issued by the DA through the National Organic Agriculture Program.

The PGS is a mechanism for certifying associations and cooperatives of farmers engaged in organic agriculture and producers of organic agriculture products.

“The active engagement of farmers and the LGUs in the whole process plays a vital role in organic agriculture sector development,” DA-13 Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca Atega said in the same statement. (PNA)