Small-scale farmers on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines have been responding to climate change by going organic and pioneering new sustainable agriculture techniques. In the past decade, annual drought, flash floods, and pest infestations have increased malnutrition on this island which used to have three growing seasons. In recent years, farmers have been replacing synthetic pesticides with their own natural mix of deterrents, and paying off debts with the savings they get from lower inputs. This past week, a group of organic and sustainable farming proponents called Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG), criticized the Court of Appeals for issuing a writ of preliminary injunction against a Davao City ordinance banning aerial spraying. The MASIPAG – which is made up of 400 organizations including farmers, scientists, and NGOs – says that aerial spraying used by large banana plantations contaminates organic crops and makes water undrinkable.

The Court of Appeals based in Cagayan de Oro City ordered the writ after the temporary restraining order on aerial spraying expired. The MASIPAG is asking the CA to let Davao City take care of the health of its residence and not to favor large plantation farmers over poorer farmers who now work hard to keep their crops organic. One young villager named Rasid Naim, 28, helped push for organic, sustainable agriculture and has found that his new practices not only save him from overbearing pests, but that his rice fields are able to withstand extreme weather like flooding. Some Mindanao farmers don't just see organic farming techniques as a way to save their crops, they also see it as an environmental health issue. Oxfam America reported that one woman who makes fertilizers and pesticides remarked: “We need to save Mother Earth.”

The criticism of the CA isn't the first time Mindanao farmers have spoken out about their farming rights. In May of 2004, more than a thousand farmers, lumads, workers and students stormed the gates of Monsanto Philippines in General Santos City, South Cotabato to protest the large amounts of Bt-corn being planted and sold. They were upset because they claimed that the biotech corn was causing illness and degrading the environment. In light of this political protest, it will be interesting to see if – with the rise of sustainable agriculture on Mindanao -- there will be much more tolerance for courts overthrowing aerial spraying bans -- especially when those bans are so important to the economic and general health of more and more farmers.

Via Oxfam America and Minda News

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