As the Benguet State University turns (BSU) 23, it has shifted to organic agriculture, shunning agrochemical inputs.
BY LYN RAMO
REGIONS
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet ( 263 kms. North of Manila) – The Benguet State University (BSU) has shifted to organic agriculture.
The BSU, formerly the Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC), celebrates its 23rd anniversary with an array of activities next week.
BSU President Rogelio Colting envisions a premier university in sub-tropical agriculture not only in Asia but in the world with the university’s new program in organic agriculture.
With upland farmers as its direct beneficiaries, the BSU has started shifting away from farm technologies that rely heavily on petro-chemicals.
“We now discourage researches and experiments that use chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” Colting said in a press conference January 7. He added that only experiments conducted for purposes of comparison are allowed to use inorganic inputs.
To demonstrate the university’s paradigm shift, the university advocates enrolment in organic agriculture and conversion of farms. It has devoted one hectare in Balili to farm conversion. Similarly, one hectare in the strawberry farms in Betag has been devoted to organic farming practices.
“All it takes is one year for the soil to revert to its natural form,” said Colting. If farmers practice organic farming, biodiversity is restored, he added.
On its 23rd year, the BSU has been supporting scholarly social and technical researches and studies.
Dr. Sonwright Maddul, vice-president for Research, Development and Extension said BSU researches have garnered various awards from both regional and national award-giving bodies.
The BSU has developed partnerships with various educational institutions here and abroad, such as in Europe, Asia and the Pacific regions. Dr. Tessie M. Merestela, vice-president for Academic Affairs said among BSU partners are schools in Ghent, Louvain and Antwerp in Belgium; South Korea, Thailand and Tanzania.
Merestela said the partnership with Chungbuk National University in South Korea would be inked on Monday.
Forums on climate change; health; science and technology; bamboo research, development and extension; and entrepreneurship would be the highlight of the celebrations that would run from January 12 to 15.
Various exhibits will also showcase the university’s achievements in various fields. Nordis/Posted byBulatlat.com
