Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment
The SEARICE-supported farmers' federation called FOODS (FARMERS’ ORGANIZATION FOR ORGANIC AND DIVERSIFIED SYSTEM) launched on 30 August a vermicompost production facility in SEARICE's Learning Farm located at Purok 13 Poblacion, President Roxas, North Cotabato.
FOODS, which SEARICE helped to form in 2019, has been advocating with farmers in their community to shift to organic and diversified farming. They decided to move beyond advocacy and supply the farmers with organic fertilizer produced through vermiculture--or the artificial rearing of earthworms to produce compost that enhances soil fertility.
Says Jose Cordero: "We cannot keep advocating for the use of organic fertilizers, without ensuring that there is sufficient supply for farmers that make the important decision to turn away from chemical fertilizers." The vermicompost facility will benefit farmers in nearby communities as well as help FOODS raise resources for their future projects.
