The Local Government Unit of Valencia, Bukidnon, in cooperation with farmer cooperatives, indigenous communities, and non-governmental organizations, has recently adopted a proposal to transform the city as a major producer of organic rice for the country. In a consultative meeting conducted on August 20, 2004, the City Mayor concretized the proposal by declaring the city as the “Organic Rice Capital of the Philippines.”

This policy declaration presents an opportunity to mainstream and upscale rural community initiatives in Valencia to produce healthy food while protecting the environment and agricultural resource base. This initiative is also expected to spur local economic growth, provide increased local employment, increase competitiveness of the local rice industry, and prepare local communities for the impending negative impact of the inclusion of rice in international trade under WTO.

In 21 February 2005, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed Ordinance No. 03-2005 creating a Task Force for the formulation and implementation/ operationalization of the Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Rice Development Master Plan for the City of Valencia. The Plan served as the guideposts in attaining the objectives as well as propelling Valencia towards sustainable agriculture development.

The Organic Rice Master Plan (ORMP) will focus mainly on developing a single product and industry – the organic rice industry. As such, the ORMP will look at the needs of this industry from both a developmental and business/ market perspective. The Task Force assigned this process to a specialized Research Team under PDAP and AJPN.

Organization and Use of the Master Plan

The main body of the Plan is presented in five parts:

• Chapter 2: Assessment of the current status of the organic rice industry
• Chapter 3: Articulation of the ORMP’s development goals, objectives and targets
• Chapter 4: Assessment of the local agricultural situation in Valencia City
• Chapter 5: Proposed strategies, interventions, and action plans
• Chapter 6: Proposed governance and institutional arrangements for implementation of the ORMP

The ORMP is intended to be used as:

• a policy and program to be adopted by the City Council;
• a strategic direction for LGU budget planning and for ongoing development plans for developing the agriculture sector, especially the local rice industry;
• a common platform for establishing working partnerships between the LGU, communities and POs, NGOs, R&D institutions, and the private sector.
• an investment plan to seek possible involvement of external support agencies. It was recommended that that a “donors’ forum” will be convened to raise possible support for the ORMP.