DILIMAN, Quezon City—To help Filipinos grow healthy food while caring for the environment, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) once again conducted a free seminar to share technologies for a successful organic farming venture.

Reden Mark Costales, president and chief executive officer of Costales Nature Farms (CNF), talked about technologies in organic farming including those that they practice in their farm. He stressed that, in organic farming, it is important to fix the soil structure first by using organic fertilizers.

Costales also discussed the steps in preparing organic inputs and the basics of vegetable production and urban gardening. A demonstration on the preparation of various organic concoctions, using effective microorganisms and organic kitchen wastes, was also held for the participants.

Established in 2005, CNF is a successful organic farm located in Majayjay, Laguna. They are a major producer of organic high-value vegetables, herbs, and processed pork for major supermarkets, restaurants, and hotel chains in Metro Manila. CNF is also one of the accredited Extension Service Providers of the ATI.

About 120 individuals from Metro Manila and neighboring regions attended the free seminar last April 12, 2019 at the ATI Rural Development and Education Center. This followed an earlier seminar on organic agriculture held last January 18, 2019.

One of the participants, Eric Tributo from Tondo, Manila, shared his excitement to try organic farming.

“The topic is very timely for me because I plan to start a farming business in our province this year. I’ve become very excited to apply what I learned as soon as possible,” he remarked.