Cost of organic certification in the Philippines: Boon or bane to organic farmers?

Abstract

© 2016, Journal of the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences. All Right Reserved. The enactment of the Organic Agricultural Act of 2010 or RA 10068 in 2010 and its full implementation in 2016 requires all organic produce to be sold in the market to have the organic seal or label. The study determined why organic palay (paddy rice) and vegetable farmers’ still have low certification, and are reluctant to have their farm certified. A total of 78 full organic palay and 98 organic vegetable farmers in Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4 (Southern Tagalog), Philippines was included in a survey conducted in 2011. The result of the study showed that small-scale farmers cannot afford to have their farms certified by a 3rd party due to their small volume of production and low farm price received. This will not be viable for farmers who are only in the transition stage and have low yield. Since the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) has already gained consumer acceptance, the government needs to reconsider the internal control system as a means of certifying organic farms so as not to jeopardize the milestone the organic movement has already attained in the country.

Source or Periodical Title

Journal of the International Society for Southeast Asian Agricultural Sciences

ISSN

8593132

Page

107-118

Document Type

Article

Subject

3 party certification rd, Break-even price, Organic agriculture, Profitability

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