Widening Access to Organic Agriculture Through Open and Distance e-Learning

Abstract

It is a common knowledge that the ongoing destruction of the environment resulted to land degradation, poor agricultural yield and unsustainable farm production. This poor yield prompted farmers to adopt monoculture and highly importing farming systems that further leads to deteriorating soil condition. This paper narrates how the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), with Alfonso’s (2014) Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL) platform and worldview, has widened access to organic agriculture through the offering of non-formal course, Organic Agriculture Online. Organic agriculture is a benign form of agriculture that enhances soil structure and fertility giving sustainable benefits to both farmers and the environment. In this digital era, there is an urgent need to maximize information sharing through ODeL. The UPOU through ODeL will play a critical role in inculcating the concept of organic agriculture bringing about social transformation and subsequent environmental rehabilitation.