Are we biting the hand that feeds us? Knowing the Filipino farmer—their struggles and aspirations

by Lois Mauri Anne L. Liwanag

Bachelor of Science in Development Communication

Visayas State University

Waking up in the morning greeted by the inviting smell of freshly cooked rice for breakfast, drinking a bottle of cold buko juice on a warm summer afternoon, or coming home to a piping hot serving of sinigang loaded with fresh vegetables for dinner—these are only some of the many best things in life that most privileged Filipinos take for granted. 

Ironically enough, the persons who worked hard for the food served on dining tables are the very ones who are unable to eat a proper meal three times a day.   

Knowing the Filipino farmer

According to Asterio Saliot, the former director of the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), the average age of a Filipino farmworker is 57, with an average level of education of grade five, working on an average of a 1.5-hectare farm. 

Their job is not limited to planting vegetables or fiber. They engage in agriculture which involves cultivating field or specialty crops, handling orchards or vineyards, and raising poultry or other livestock for food, fiber, and raw materials. The crops that they mainly focus on cultivating in the country include rice, corn, coconut, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple, coffee, mangoes, tobacco, and abaca. 

The said farmer receives less than half of the wage an average Filipino worker earns; they only produce one-sixth of the value of output produced by a worker in the industry. With lower wages and even much lower productivity, farmworkers make up two of every three of the country’s working poor (Habito, 2018). 

Farmers in the Philippines are generally poor and marginalized, unlike the ones in nations like the United States, China, Japan, and Thailand, where they are given more credit, resources, and most especially—respect.   

A rice farmer in Eastern Samar

Struggles

Despite being in an agricultural country, Filipino farmers remain as one of the poorest sectors in the Philippines, with the highest poverty incidence in 2015 at 34.3 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This ironic fact has been the reality of the people who feed the population and keep the economy alive.

At present, some farmers are said to believe that there is more money with education. In hopes of continuing under the agricultural sector, they send their young ones to school in order to gain more knowledge and skills. Unfortunately, the younger generations turn away from agriculture with their favor leaning towards livelihoods far from the hardship of being under the sun or soaking in dirt and mud. 

On the other hand, there are also some farmers who let their children help in the field as soon as they start to learn how to lift or till. As a result, there is a multitude of Filipino farmworkers who are not aware of the illegal or harmful farming practices they do because of inadequate proper education. They perform kaingin or slash-and-burn and apply excessive inorganic pesticides and fertilizers, thinking that these are the normal things to do since they have already grown used to it or they have already been doing this ever since. 

Apart from this, some of the common problems of the Filipino farmer that causes them to experience poverty, unproductivity, and marginalization are: 1) insufficient government support, 2) inequality in land distribution, 3) unfair trade practices, 4) increasing population growth, 5) natural calamities, 6) unpredictable market demand, and 7) armed conflicts specifically in Mindanao.   

Aspirations

The opportunity to interview some farmers and other agricultural workers arose at the Farmers’ and Fisherfolks’ Day held last April 27, 2019, as a part of the celebration of Visayas State University’s Anniversary. 

Several of them were asked one common question: Ano ang kaunlaran para sayo? [What is development for you?]

The said interview was supposedly a requirement for a project in a Development Communication course. However, it unexpectedly reflected some of the farmworkers’ vision and aspirations:

“Kaunlaran? Syempre pagsaka o pagtanim sa sariling lupa, sa Pilipinas.” 

[Development? Of course farming or planting on one’s land, in the Philippines.]

“’Yung hindi na natin kailangang humingi ng pananim ng ibang bansa.”

[When we no longer have to ask for the crops of other countries.]

“Para sa’kin, maunlad na siguro kung hindi na kailangan gumamit ng fertilizer at pesticide sa pagtanim.” 

[For me, it would have been better if there was no need to use fertilizer and pesticide for planting.]

“Mapagtapos (ng pag-aaral) mga anak ko at matulungan pa mga kapatid ko.” 

[To make my children graduate (from school) and help my siblings more.]

Contemplating on these answers, it is quite evident that farmers desire simple yet impactful things. Amidst the countless criticisms and suggestions from politicians, academicians, and even citizens in order to improve the country’s agricultural sector and the farmers’ way of living—the answer seems so light and easy in the eyes of these hardworking people. They simply need and want a better quality of life for themselves, for their families, and if possible, for the whole nation. 

Receiving enough funding and support from the government, legally acquiring the land originally deserved, selling hard-earned products at a just and reasonable price, and experiencing a more proper and formal education—these are only some of the many other aspirations in life that most unprivileged Filipino farmers yearn for every single day. 

Ironically enough, the persons who have the capability to make these dreams a reality are the very ones who are causing the farmers’ adversity. 

 

References

Agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://pinas.dlsu.edu.ph/gov/agriculture.html

Domingo, L. (2016). Official backs IPs 'kaingin' system. Retrieved from https://www.manilatimes.net/official-backs-ips-kaingin-system/300504/

Filipino farmers- a dying breed? (2013). Retrieved from http://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/feature/2013/02/26/filipino-farmers-dying-breed

Habito, C. (2018). Our lowly farmworkers. Retrieved from https://pids.gov.ph/pids-in-the-news/2302

Inorganic Fertilizer: Advantages and Disadvantages. (2019). Retrieved from https://agrihomegh.com/inorganic-fertilizer/

Pesticide classifications and formulations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://westnile.ca.gov/special/category_a/?page=Chapter2.htm

Philippines-Agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Philippines-AGRICULTURE.html

Note: 

This article was submitted by the author as a class requirement in AgSci 11, Dept of Agronomy, VSU

What does it take to be an agronomist?

By Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, Past President, Visayas State University

What does it take to be an agronomist and what lies ahead of him or her?

Here are important figures for us to consider:

·       a) In 2017, the total paddy rice output of the Philippines met 93% of the country's annual requirement. The population consumed 11.7 million tons of rice. (usual shortage of 10% and brown rice/rice bran solution).

·       b) In 2016, for every 17 births per 1000 population there were 6 deaths per 1000 population. Every minute, 2.8 Filipinos are born. Every 10 or 11 minutes, we need one new classroom and down the road each of these kids will consume 120 kg of rice per year. (why is Philippine presidency such a contested and contentious position?)

(“ang ginoo pito ra kaadlaw nagbuhat ug yuta pero ang tawo walay hunong himo ug bata”-Gov. RE Lerias)

·       c) All of the scenarios of future climate change (CC) point to increase the estimates of the number of people at risk from hunger. (ascribing everything to climate change)

This country is therefore in dire need of professionals who study plants and work for increasing their production in an economical and environmentally sustainable fashion. Mind you, it is not only this country, but the whole world. Who are these professionals?

Used to be in the 1970’s and earlier, there was not much specialization. When it was plant, agronomists took care of it. Thus, an agronomist takes care of management: soil, pest, and other growth and production issues in the field. I remember that there were only agronomy, animal science, agricultural education, and home science as major fields on this campus. (lots of fieldwork/learning by working, Agric was looked down).

Later, when Visayas Agricultural College (VAC) became a state college (ViSCA), other specializations were introduced such as arts and letters, ag. engineering, ag. economics, ag. chemistry, plant protection, plant breeding, forestry, vet. medicine grew out of animal science, ag. extension and dev. communication grew out of ag. education, food tech grew out of home science, and horticulture grew out of agronomy and, soil science was added to the agronomy department. Specializations are important for us to grow.

In the latter years of my term as president of this university, we had to “handle with care” a formal divorce of agronomy and soil science.  (jurisdiction and property distribution were quite tricky and sensitive to handle but they can’t go back living together again). 

VSU agronomists conducting a field experiment

All these specializations somehow delimit the scope of work agronomists are expected to deliver professionally. However, specialization did not and will not limit farmers’ expectations from an agronomist and other agriculture-related graduates from this university. In our national context where an agronomist most likely finds himself/herself engaging with farmers alone in the field, an agronomist is also expected to be a good soil scientist, farm economist, horticulturist, plant breeder, communicator and even good in animal production, aquaculture and forestry or NRM to name some. To farmers, an agronomist is an “agriculturist”- an embodiment of expert. (McCoy and Ormoc rice farmers, Roy and cassava growers)

What does this tell you?

Do not limit yourself to knowing only field crops and cultural management practices. Endeavor to know and master beyond crop science. I recently analyzed the CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) that governs offering of agriculture and observed that the prescribed curriculum provides graduates the sciences needed for one to become a good agriculturist (but good is not enough). However, the CMO doesn’t preclude us from adding additional fundamental and major courses especially that now, some of the general education courses have been downloaded to senior high.

I will not interfere in the plans of this department, but I personally still subscribe to a 4-year BSA major in Agronomy curriculum rather than the 12+3. With the growing demand for climate SMART and precision agriculture, agriculturists need more mapping techniques, advanced soil study techniques, and even more understanding in biotechnology and IT. (possible from cross enrolment in the fourth year)

Furthermore, the CMO does not preclude our agronomy professors to deliver the course in a more advanced and exciting manner that students will endeavor to learn as much as possible in the course and not endeavor to end their suffering as soon as possible from taking their courses. This can only happen if professors in this department will engage in research/driven by discovery, extension work, and actual farming. (farming lessons on seeds and weeding)

Specialization is usually overcome by collaboration or partnership but, it will be hard for anyone to collaborate/partner with someone who doesn’t have anything (absolute provision). If you don’t have anything other disciplines can offer, without your partners/collaborators, you will be paralyzed/inutile and unable. A person is appreciated and recognized usually when he can deliver more than what is expected of him. (basketball experience)

So, to faculty members and students, make BSA major in agronomy broad and exciting by learning beyond your coursework and collaborating with other specialists. For example, it will not be bad if some of you do research involving drones and high spectral cameras for field observation and management delivery. It will be exciting to see our agronomy students study how to use GPS and make or handle GIS maps as tractors are now equipped with GPS, and future tractors will be dominated with robotics. It will be great to see our agronomy students use plant or crop physiology study sensors, do genetic modification in their thesis or deal with soil problems as it affects field crops. Clearly for this to happen, there is a need for different specializations to relax, weaken, and render more permeable the boundaries of various specializations of agriculture in this university and allow greater collaboration.

So, what’s the future of agronomists?

Let me say that the future of this country and this world depends on the agronomists. Agriculture is the backbone of this country and we need to feed and clothe an ever-growing population. Agronomists are simply crucial to pulling off the job.

However, they should not be agronomists as usual. There is a saying that “a solution should measure up to the problem”. The problem of food and resources in this country has become more difficult and complex than the new breed of agronomists should be armed with complex knowledge and skills. With appropriate knowledge and skills, an agronomist will be potent and can go “places”. Short of this, an agronomist is doomed to be unexciting and lame.

--------------------------------- 

Excerpt of the speech delivered during the acquaintance program, Department of Agronomy, VIsayas State University, on 31 August 2018.

Refocusing Agriculture in the Philippines

Refocusing Agriculture: Excerpt from my Convocation Speech at the 45th Founding Anniversary of Visayas State University (VSU)-Alangalang Campus, Leyte, Philippines on 09 Sept 2016.

By V.B. Asio

Your theme “Agrivolution: refocusing farming for food and nutrition security” is very timely and very relevant.

When I was an agriculture student in ViSCA in 1980, the agriculture battle cry was: we need to increase crop yield by increasing the yield per unit area and by cultivating new lands because of the rapidly increasing population. The population of the country at the time was only 48 million. The hot research topic was farming system, which slowly became cropping system, then sustainable agriculture or ecological farming, and now organic agriculture. If you examine these farming strategies, they are closely related. But the last, which is organic agriculture, has become very narrow in scope and very impractical in many aspects.

But where are we now?

Now more than 30 years have passed, with a staggering country’s population of more than 100 million, we still have the same battle cry:  to increase food production by increasing yield per unit area and by opening new lands. This time though, there are a lot more complications. The problem of increasing food production has become more urgent, and very problematic. Let me cite some reasons:

1.       The gap between population increase and food production has greatly widened. Our population has more than doubled but crop yield has not doubled despite the availability of new high yielding varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides. For example, the average rice yield in 1980 was 2.3 tons/ha. Now it is only 3.8 tons/ha. What is aggravating the problem is that production cost has greatly increased, and the area of our agricultural lands has decreased.

Many of the new high yielding varieties which showed great potential in the experimental stations have failed to show their yield potential in the actual world-- in farmers’ fields. According to Dr. Francisco of Philrice in an undated paper, the yield gap ranges from 2 t/ha in the wet season, to 3.9t/ha in the dry season. This also partly explains why we cannot find our new high yielding varieties (say, of sweetpotato) in farmers’ farms in Leyte and Samar.

2.       There is increasing soil degradation due to destructive farming practices, resulting in a decline in soil fertility. This is coupled with increasing incidence of pests and diseases. The latter triggers the farmers to over-apply pesticides. In our on-going ACIAR-funded soil research, vegetable farmers in the Visayas and some parts of Mindanao just apply any amount of fertilizers without a scientific or logical basis. Worse, they over-apply a cocktail of pesticides, 2-3 times a week, endangering the health of the consumers.

3.       As if to make the matter more difficult for the next generation, the widespread soil degradation is accompanied by the shrinking of our prime agricultural lands because of urbanization. Urbanization is eating fast our rice lands. In many parts of the country, you would see former productive rice lands have become subdivisions, factory sites and shopping malls.

4.       Climate change has entered the picture. It has changed the rainfall pattern, temperature fluctuations, and occurrence of typhoons, floods, and drought. Crops are now subject to extreme weather conditions. In short, we are in more challenging and exciting agriculture.

5.       As a result of the over-application of farm inputs, there is also a degradation of the environment. Soil, water, and air pollution are very serious in many places.

6.       This has led to the rise of the organic agriculture movement. The Philippine government has enacted the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010. But we know that organic agriculture cannot produce the amount of food required to feed the fast-rising population of the country. Organic agriculture cannot feed our more than 100 million population.

So, we are now facing a dilemma:  protect the environment even if the food production is low, or continue the environmentally damaging practices but with higher food production. This is like the choice between the ocean and the deep blue sea.

7.       The Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) technology hold great promise for some crops, but are we sure that they are safe? The debate is raging in the international scientific community. Time will tell if GMO crops are really safe for our health and to the environment.

8.       Despite the more than 40 years of designing of agricultural implements, most of our farmers are still practicing manual labor due to a lot of reasons. Have we really looked into why the majority of our farmers are not using modern farm implements until now?

9.       What threatens further our agriculture is the decreasing interest in farming among our young generation. It seems everybody wants a happy and easy life. Interest in agricultural science has continued to decline as reflected by the general the decline in enrollment in universities and colleges around the country (fortunately, our enrolment in agricultural sciences at the main campus has continued to increase in the last five years).

10.     The mainstream media are partly to blame. Just observe what kind of TV programs are created and promoted. To cite an example, beauty contests are very popular because of the intense media campaign. No wonder many young girls dream to be a beauty queen instead of becoming scientists. The media have failed to create awareness among the youth about the importance of agriculture or about science. And of course, our government institutions too. Much of the blame should go to them.

What should we do? How can we refocus farming or agriculture?

The problem is so serious and so complex. It needs the active participation of all sectors involved. As an academician, I will just focus on the things that we can do in the academe.

1.      There is a need for retooling of those involved in teaching students agriculture. Agricultural science now is different in many aspects from that 30 years ago.

2.       We need to revise and improve our curricula and the courses we are offering. The recent move by CHED is to change the agricultural science curriculum (i.e. BSA) by adding more entrepreneurship courses. Is this the solution to the problem in our agriculture? To me it is a big NO. It is like changing the wrong tire. If it is true that more entrepreneurship courses in our BSA curriculum will produce more agri entrepreneurs, then why is it that graduates of BS Agribusiness and other business courses have not accomplished this. On the contrary, this will greatly weaken agricultural science in the country.  

3.    We need to change our strategy in promoting agriculture. If we still project agriculture using the image of a farmer with the plow and the carabao, we will not gain bright young students to agricultural science.

4.       There is a need for more involvement of our students in OJT in successful and progressive farms.

5.      We need more reliable data on the effects of fertilizers on crop yield. In the last decade, everywhere, there has been sprouting of all kinds of organic fertilizers whose efficacy has not been scientifically verified. Proponents just cite anecdotal evidence to promote their products. This has led to erosion in people's confidence in organic fertilizers.

6.     We need to change our strategy in extension. We need to educate more our farmers. How? It is for all of us to think about.

Before I end my talk let me quote Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese farmer and philosopher. He said:

 “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”

Thank you for your kind attention. Happy 45th Anniversary to VSU-Alangalang!

Organic Fertilizers, Organic Plant Growth Regulator, and Organic Plant Supplement as defined in the new Philippine National Standard for Organic Fertilizer

The new Philippine National Standard (PNS) for Organic Fertilizer was published in 2013 by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) of the Department of Agriculture (PNS/BAFPS 40:2013).

According to this new PNS, Organic Fertilizer is “any product in solid or liquid form, of plant (except by-products from petroleum industries) or animal origin that has undergone substantial decomposition that can supply available nutrients to plants with a total Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) of five to seven percent (5-7%). This may be enriched by microbial inoculants and naturally occurring minerals but no chemical or inorganic fertilizer material has been added to the finished product to affect the nutrient content.”

Organic Plant Growth Regulator/Promoter is “any compound of organic origin, in liquid or solid form, which in low concentration promotes or modifies physiological process in plants.”

Organic Plant Supplement is “any compound of organic origin in liquid or solid form which in low concentration promotes or modifies physiological processes in plants. Total NPK is not lower than 0.5% and not more than 2.5% (0.5-2.5%) and may contain beneficial microorganisms, micronutrients and plant growth regulators. These plant supplements include, but are not limited to: FPJ (Fermented Plant Juice), FFJ (Fermented Fruit Juice), FAA (Fish Amino Acid), FE (Fish Emulsion), Seaweed Extracts, Vermi Tea, Compost Tea and the like.”

The Technical Working Group which prepared the new/revised PNS was composed of: Dr. Leo P. Caneda, Executive Director, BAFPS (Chair) and the following members: Dr. N.B. Inciong (Professional Regulation Commission), Dr. E.P. Paningbatan Jr (Univ Philippines Los Banos), Dr. E.S. Paterno (UPLB), Dr. P.B. Sanchez (UPLB), Dr. V.C. Cuevas (UPLB), Dr. G.V. Pangga (UPLB), Dr. B.M. Calub (UPLB), Dr. N.E de la Cruz (Central Luzon State University), Dr. V.B. Asio (Visayas State University), Ms. J.B. Lansangan (Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority), Ms. P. Orpia (Bureau of Soil and Water Management), Ms. L.K. Limpin (Organic Certification Center of the Phil), Mr.  A. Aquino (Negros Island Certification Agency), and Mr. P.Belisario (Organic Producers and Traders Association).

SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair 2014 winners

The renowned Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) established in 1966 by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) announced in its website (www.searca.org) the 2014 winners of the prestigious SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair awards. Below is the complete press release:

SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair honors champions of sustainable agricultural and rural development

For their outstanding contribution to agricultural research and development, five outstanding Southeast Asian academicians have been conferred the SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair in April 2014. They are Dr. Orville L. Bondoc, Dr. Virginia C. Cuevas, and Dr. Dinah Pura T. Depositario, from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB); Dr. Victor B. Asio from the Visayas State University (VSU); and Dr. Mohd. Razi Ismail from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Dr. Bondoc, a Professor of Animal Breeding, has been awarded the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Professorial Chair in 2012 among his many accolades. His lecture will be on “Organic Livestock Farming and Breeding towards Food Security of Smallholder Farmers in the Tropics.”

Dr. Cuevas, the 2012 Hugh Greenwood Environmental Science Awardee is a Professor of Botany at UPLB. Her lecture is titled “Ecological Succession in Areas Covered by Mine Tailings in Mankayan, Benguet.”

Dr. Depositario is an Associate Professor at the Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship. She has been a recipient of the 2011 UPLB Centennial Professorial Chair and CEM Outstanding Researcher in 2010. Her lecture will be on “Climate Change Adaptation Strategies of Philippine Agribusiness SMEs.”

Dr. Asio is the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences and a Soil Science Professor at VSU. Recognized as one of VSU’s Outstanding Academicians, Dr. Asio will lecture on “Bio-physical Characteristics and Sustainable Management of Marginal Uplands in the Philippines.”

Dr. Razi is a Senior Professor and Deputy Director at UPM’s Institute of Tropical Agriculture. He specializes in Plant Eco-Physiology and will deliver a lecture on “Managing Plants under Climatic Stress: A Challenge for Food Security.”

The SEARCA Regional Professorial Chair, which started in 2011, was established to recognize exemplary Southeast Asian academics who have made significant contributions in the field of agriculture and related science. The award carries with it a USD 5,000 endowment.

As SEARCA gears up for a new strategic 5-year agenda, its Regional Professorial Chair Grant will now focus on outstanding university academicians in Southeast Asia who have championed inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development through their instruction, research, and extension activities in their country and in the region.

Source: www.searca.org

Response of Abaca (Musa textilis Née) to shade, irrigation and fertilization

Abaca plants

Abaca (Musa textilis Née), a relative of the edible banana (Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana), is a native to the Philippines. It is grown primarily for its fibers which are utilized by the pulp, cordage and fiber craft industries. Studies have shown that the specific tensile strength of abaca fiber is comparable to or even higher than that of fiberglass (Bledzki et al., 2007;Sinon, 2008).

Dr. Marlito Bande and co-workers, in a paper to be published in the international journal Industrial Crops and Products 42:70– 77, reported on the optimum light, nutrient and water requirements of abaca to attain optimum yield. They also discussed how these parameters affect fiber recovery and fiber quality under field conditions. 

They showed that abaca planted under 50% shade had significantly (p < 0.01) higher fiber yield than those planted under the other shade/light treatments (30% and 40% of full sunlight using polypropylene shade nets) since the plants pseudostem under such treatment were longer, bigger and heavier.They revealed that the combination of irrigation and fertilization further enhanced fiber yield to as much as 41% but this was not enough to offset the effects of shade on the performance of the plant which significantly (p < 0.01) increased fiber yield to as much as 165%. Shade and irrigation–fertilizer application had no significant effect on fiber fineness and tensile strength. 

They concluded that 50% shade is the optimum requirement of abaca to achieve an optimum machine stripped fiber yield of 135.04± 4.31 g/plant without affecting fiber quality for industrial purposes.

The study which was conducted in Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

References

Bande MM, J Grenz, VB Asio, and J Sauerborn. 2013. Fiber yield and quality of abaca (Musa textilis var. Laylay) grown under different shade conditions, water and nutrient management. Industrial Crops and Products 42:70–77.

Bledzki AK, AA Mamun, O Faruk. 2007. Abaca fibre reinforced PP composites and expansion with jute and flax fibre PP composites. eXPRESS Polymer Letters 1 (11), 755–762.

Sinon FG. 2008. Optimization of stripping technologies for the production of high quality abaca fiber. Dissertation, Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

A comparison of organic and conventional farming

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) in the USA, assembled in 1980 a high-powered Task Force composed of 24 scientists (chaired by S.R. Aldrich) with expertise in agricultural economics, agronomy, animal science, dairy science, entomology, food science, horticulture, soil science, veterinary medicine and others to look into the similarities and differences between organic and conventional farming. The Task Force report, which remains very relevant to the current debate surrounding organic and conventional agriculture, was officially published as CAST Report No. 84 "Organic and Conventional Farming Compared" in October 1980.

Some of the interesting highlights of the report are:

1. Conventional and organic farming have much in common. They differ principally in the use of modern chemical technology. Conventional farmers use commercial inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, animal feed additives) to increase productivity while organic farmers prefer to use natural resources.

2. Both conventional and organic farmers use various mechanical, biological, and other means to control pests. Conventional farmers use synthetic pesticides but organic farmers prefer to avoid them.

3. Conventional farmers extensively use nutritional supplements in animal feeds, hormonally active substances, and drugs. These substances are generally unacceptable to organic farmers.

4. The terms "natural" and "organic" are often used interchangeably in organic farming. But in science, organic refers to carbon compounds. Many such compounds occur in nature and many are synthesized in laboratories and factories. Likewise, many inorganic or nonorganic compounds occur naturally. Hence, natural compounds are not necessarily organic, and organic compounds are not necessarily natural.

5. Urea is a natural organic waste product of human and animal metabolism. It is present in animal and human excreta and is therefore accepted as a natural and nonartificial nitrogen source in organic farming. However, the urea that is synthesized in factories which is chemically identical to the urea produced by human and animal metabolism (used as fertilizer in conventional farming), is not acceptable in organic farming. This is one of the inconsistencies in organic agriculture.

6. The urea produced by animals (present in excreta) or by factories (in commercial fertilizers) is transformed in the soil into ammonium and nitrate ions, the important forms of nitrogen taken up by plants. Both ions are inorganic, not organic. Therefore, in scientific terminology, the organically grown food produced with urea derived from animals is actually "inorganically grown."

7. The "organic foods" produced by organic farming are composed of chemicals. Most foods contain many chemicals, and most of these are organic chemicals, whether the foods are produced by conventional farming or organic farming.