Last year, I told myself to find someone who can be my Mr. Jonjon Sarmiento version in region 8. Why Mr. Sarmiento? Why not? He has a big heart for organic farming, generous and an expert in his own right in practical farming. He has a nonchalant approach to teaching as if he is not and speaks from his heart, and practices and experiments in the level that fellow farmers can easily understand and emulate. Intuitively, I scouted one in every chance and opportunity that I get when I am with the farmers.

Actually, I have seen three or more. But how to gather and bring them to the field, that’s another step to prepare for. When July 2015 came, surprisingly, my wish came true and mind you, not only one farmer but a group of experts. Meet OMRO!

What is OMRO?

OMRO stands for Organikong Magsasaka ng Rehiyon Otso. Voluntarily, they organized and made constitutions and by-laws, complete with a list of members which initially started with fourteen (14), sets of officers and minutes of the meetings.

“After the training on Internal Control System, we felt the need to act and think as one and become united”, said Mr. Paredes, the appointed OMRO president. “This is also to embrace the ATI-RTC 8’s challenge in making Region 8 known in terms of OA good practices”, he added.

From then on, OMRO became my GFF (Generous Farmer Friends). They started to act as ATI’s extension agents who continuously return and extend their support to fellow farmers and fisherfolks.

I am very much assertive that slowly, the region will make our Organic Agriculture story with my new found GFF by my side.