Living Green Lives thru the Bohol

GREENLIFE Program

Isidore O. Ancog
PAKISAMA - AFA
G rowing in
R hythm with an
E cologically vibrant
E conomy,
N ourished by
L ife-centered, organically
I ntegral
F armlands and
E cosystems
It is the Provincial Organic Agriculture Master Plan
that is hoped to serve as an alternative to the
technocrat driven conventional agriculture propagated
by the green revolution.
It is a product of the long process of development
efforts by various individuals and institutions who
proved that sustainable agriculture is only attainable if
farming systems will be freed from the bondage of
commercialized external inputs.
 According to the United Nation
Food and Agriculture
Organization, (FAO)]

“Organic Agriculture is a holistic production management

system that avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs),
minimizes pollution of air, soil and water, and optimizes
the health and productivity of plants, animals and
people.”
Over-all Content GREENLIFE Program

• Declaration of Principles
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - Bohol Agriculture Situationer
Chapter 3 - The Bohol Organic Agriculture
Movement
Chapter 4 - Organic Agriculture Framework
Chapter 5 - Problems Addressed by the
Program
Chapter 6 - Concept, Objectives and
Components
Chapter 7 - Implementation Mechanisms
Chapter 8 - Allocation and Appropriation
 The Bohol Organic
Agriculture Movement
Community-based approach
started way back early 80’s by
few NGOs
BISAD was formally formed –
September, 1994
BISAD’s Trusts

Develop and/or introduce appropriate

technologies BISAD’s Trusts

Increase production

Identify and Improve

Alternative markets

Advocacy
 BISAD’s Composition

-17 non-government organizations;

- 3 local government organizations;
- 7 Farmers’ organizations;
- 5 national gov’t agencies;
- 3 private farm operators; and
- 3 cooperatives.
The rise of BISAD as the
strong and dynamic
organic agriculture
movement were able to .
..

. . . increased collaboration between government entities

and civil society groups;

. . . introduced sus ag technologies; developed

indigenous knowledge; and improved farmers skills in
organic farming systems;
Bohol Organic Farmers Alliance (BOFA) - a
parallel movement from the small organic
farmers groups
 BISAD and BOFA as one organic movement have
accomplished:

• legislation of the Bohol Environment Code (1997)

• passing of the Bohol GMO-Free Ordinance (14 July 2003)

• passing of the Provincial Exective Order 27 creating PWG

for BOS; released the 117 OA Standards (29 December 2003)

• formalized the Bohol GREENLIFE Program (29 August

2009)
• passing of the Provincial Exective Order 20 creating the
BOAMC (29 August 2009)
• passing of the Provincial Exective Order 27 creating PWG
for BOS (29 December 2003)
 The Vision:

By the year 2015 the Province of Bohol is a major producer

of organic agriculture products led by entrepreneurial
farming communities.
 The Mission:

To continuously promote the production of healthy foods

and products through organic agricultural practices and
transforming people towards sustainable future.
The Goals:

1. At least 10% (18,487.20 has.) of prime

agricultural lands of the province converted to
organic farms by 2015.

2. At least 5% of local meat, eggs and inland

fisheries consumption in the province are
produced organically.
The Goals:

3. Established a provincial marketing network

exclusively for raw and processed organic
products.

4. Institutionalized provincial organic certification

systems based on tested farmer-led internal
quality control mechanism.
Program Components of
GREENLIFE
1. PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT:

This component attends not only to crops but also livestock

and poultry. There is growing consciousness towards
healthy foods, and there is also an increasing trend on
organic consumption – thus increasing demand of organic
products.

However, despite also of the increasing number of farmers

going into organic farming in Bohol, organic products are
still unstable. Rice and vegetables are common products,
yet not available year-round at least on a marketable
scale.
1. PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT:

Farmers complained that there is no market for organic

products other than the mainstream market. Consumers
think otherwise, because there were few attempts already
to consolidate and market organic products (e.g. organic
tabo) but failed due to insufficient and unstable supply.
1. PRODUCTION ENHANCEMENT:

A comprehensive look and attention to the production is

needed in order to meet both ends together between the
producing farmers and the consumers. This component
also attempts to stabilize production by looking at various
aspects of production cycles in each value chain.
2. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:

This component strongly believes in a “hand-over-the-

stick” learning method. All research initiatives are
intended to bring about empowering spirit to the farmers
and the communities by allowing them maximum
participation or even lead in all its aspects – from
designing to analysis.
2. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:

Researches must not only be for the so called “scientists”

or “academic experts”, and communities must not only be
used to establish the desired statistical data.
2. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:

Farmers must own the data for them to use in crafting their
own destiny as empowered people. Nevertheless, there
will be no research undertakings without the farming
communities sharing their time, knowledge, skills and
dedication.
2. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:

This component adheres to the farmer-led models of

research initiatives. It believes to the “imo farm” rather that
the “demo farm” approach. The former “imo (your) farm”, is
a learning undertaking where observations are done on
actual farms of farmers.
2. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT:

In this model, community culture and the whole ecosystem

to where the farm is located are major considerations;
thereby its scientific approach is holistic. This exercise
creates spontaneous ripple effects in the surrounding
farms, exemplifying farmer-to-farmer knowledge transfer.
3. MARKETING DEVELOPMENT:

The component is aimed towards developing “niche

market” for organic products better than that of the
mainstream marketing and trading system.
3. MARKETING DEVELOPMENT:

A “niche market” can only be attained through a defined

and organized relationship between three parties: the
producers (organized farmers); the traders (with
systematic and fair trading system) and the consumers
(informed public).
3. MARKETING DEVELOPMENT:

This component also envisions developing a systematic

marketing and trading facility that will respond to fair
trading system capable for organic crops. Hence,
‘niche’ marketing hopefully serves as alternative for the
farmers as against the mainstream trading system.
4. POLICY ADVOCACY / STAKEHOLDERS DEVELOPMENT:

While this program works on increasing farm productivity,

and improve the marketing aspects, it will also provide the
technical and advocacy support necessary to sustain the
inroads made in the adoption of sustainable and organic
farming practices.
4. POLICY ADVOCACY / STAKEHOLDERS DEVELOPMENT:

Foremost would be its role in institutionalizing the

Province’s program in organic agriculture by passing a
provincial ordinance making Bohol an organic agriculture
province.
4. POLICY ADVOCACY / STAKEHOLDERS DEVELOPMENT:

Secondly, this program will form a strong constituency of

organic farmers, organic consumers and traders, organic
agriculture advocates who will help each other in promoting
organic agriculture in Bohol.
4. POLICY ADVOCACY / STAKEHOLDERS DEVELOPMENT:

Thirdly, by activating a workable Internal Guarantee

System (IGS) which sets the standards for organic product
certification and fair pricing, we put in motion an economic
independence rooted on a strong local economy that
doesn’t exploit – one surefire method of alleviating poverty.
5. ORGANIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEM:

This component aims at institutionalizing an internal quality

control system that will serve as a second party certifier
acceptable and affordable to small farmers.
5. ORGANIC CERTIFICATION SYSTEM:

On August 14, 2009, BOAMC during the Provincial IGS

Institutionalization Workshop approved 117 standards for
Bohol Internal Guarantee Systems (BIGS). These are
basically extracted from OCCP standards, also accredited
by IFOAM. This also includes aspects on crops, livestock,
fisheries and processing.
THE BOHOL INTERNAL
GUARANTEE SYSTEM
(BIGS)
BIGS CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

STEP 1: Farmer Level

1. Complete documentation based on 117 BIGS

organic standards. (standard forms provided)
2. Letter of intent for certification
3. Conforms for at least 3 years conversion period
4. Endorsement of existing organic farmer organization
(PO) in which the applicant farmer is a member. (If the
farmer applicant is not a member of a PO, s/he must seek
endorsement to the PO in the community nearest to her/his farm).
BIGS CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

STEP 2: Inspectors Level (municipal)

1. Evaluation/Validation of documents
2. Field Visits for site verification
3. Recommend for certification
(at least 50+1% of its members)
BIGS CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Composition of Inspectors

1 Designated staff from the MAO – Team leader

1 Representative from a PO recognized by Bohol
Organic Farmers Alliance (BOFA)
1 Representative by an NGO working in the area (if none,
BISAD determines who)
1 Representative from MLGU (preferably from SB Committee
on Agriculture)
1 Representative from BLGU where the farm is located
(preferably Barangay Kagawad Chair for the Committee on
Agriculture)
BIGS CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

STEP 3: Certifiers Level (provincial)

1. Evaluate documents and application

2. Accept certification and processing fees (to be
determined), issue receipts
3. Surprise visit (optional)
4. Issue certificate for three (3) years subject to yearly
evaluation/assessment
BIGS CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Composition of Certifiers

1 Designated staff from the OPA – Team leader

1 Representative (officially designated by its Execom) from the
Bohol Organic Farmers Alliance (BOFA)
1 Representative from BISAD (officially designated by the
BOT)
1 Representative from MLGU (preferably from SB Committee
on Agriculture)
1 Representative from BLGU where the farm is located
(preferably Barangay Kagawad Chair for the Committee on
Agriculture)
BIGS CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE:

Types of Certifification (labeling)

1st Class Certification – Fully Organic (Conforms

to all standards)
2nd Class Certification – Naturally Grown (natural
application using
internal inputs but
with minor contaminations)
3rd Class Certification – (Organically Grown (organic
application using external outputs
but with minor contaminations)
4th Class Certification – On Conversion (conforms to the
standards but does not comply with 3
years conversion process)
Implementation Mechanism
Program Allocation and
Appropriation
Sustainability
Responsibility

Bohol GREENLIFE Program sustains if the provincial

government continues to believe that the only way
towards food sufficiency and security is to go organic –
therefore be prioritized.
Accountability.

1. Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA)

2. Bohol Initiators for Sustainable Agriculture and
Development (BISAD)
3. Bohol Organic Farmers Alliance (BOFA) -
PAKISAMA
End of Presentation

Thank you very

much!
G rowing in
R hythm with an
E cologically vibrant
E conomy,
N ourished by
L ife-centered, organically
I ntegral
F armlands and
E cosystems