The Negros Occidental provincial government has established ties with the Goesan County of South Korea for the advancement of organic agriculture advocated by both local governments.
The province announced on Wednesday that the partnership has been formalized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Mayor Lee Cha Young in virtual rites held on Tuesday.
According to the MOU, both parties intend to “build up mutual cooperation between the two governments, reaffirm their commitment for the advancement of organic agriculture, and promote activities related to the development of organic agriculture in (their) countries.
“Both parties intend to implement, jointly and in coordination with the partners, activities based on the proposals discussed and approved by mutual agreement,” it added.
Activities may include the exchange of organic specialists to develop new proposals, provide technical expertise, training, and education, monitor project delivery and assess outcomes jointly with partners.
At the Provincial Capitol here, the signing rites were witnessed by Negrense Edgardo Uychiat, board member and first vice president of the Executive Board of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Asia.
Negros Occidental is considered the “organic agriculture capital of the Philippines” for being the country’s leader in organic production.
Towards the end of 2019, it has reported more than 18,000 hectares of agricultural land, including livestock, devoted to organic farming.
Goesan County, located in Chungbuk Province, has the largest concentration of organic farmers in South Korea and has mainstreamed organic agriculture in all its policies, according to the information on the IFOAM Organics International website.
It is also the birthplace of Korea’s “father of organic farming,” the late Won Kyung Son, and home to Heuksalim, the foremost private organic agriculture research institute in Korea, it added.
Source: Philippines News Agency
