The Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 (Davao Region) has turned over a PHP2.4 million Organic Agriculture Livelihood Project (OALP) to a cooperative in Davao del Sur, an official said Tuesday.

In a social media post, Martinet Roble, the DA-11 officer in charge and technical director for research and regulations, said the Magsaysay Organic Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (MOFARMCO) in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, received the aid Monday under the DA’s Organic Agriculture Program.

The assistance includes a goat house with 25 heads of upgraded native goats, 1,600 kg. of molasses, 6 kg. of African nightcrawlers (earthworms), 100 pieces each of plastic drums and crates, and six sets of agricultural tools.

“The project aims to increase the supply of organic produce and by-products in the municipality and throughout the country, as well as address the problems and gaps of organic farmers,” Roble said.

He also urged MOFARMCO to strengthen their cooperative and convince more farmers to engage in organic farming, as they are recognized as the region’s first certified Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) group.

The PGS groups consist of certified farmers and producers who practice organic agriculture.

“We would like to thank DA for providing us with this project as an added livelihood opportunity in our municipality. This is a potential source of safe, affordable food, and additional income for us,” MOFARMCO chairman Antonio Serencio Jr. said in a statement Tuesday.

MOFARMCO has 41 members and 38 hectares of organic land, 4.6 hectares of which are PGS certified. (PNA)