The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) presented the Balanced Fertilization Strategies (BFS) during the OneDA virtual meeting on January 25, 2022.

With the concern on the rising fertilizer prices, the FPA recommends and encourages BFS to alleviate the suffering of local farmers. The legal basis of the program is the Proclamation No. 1071 s. 1997 signed by Pres. Fidel Ramos authorizing the DA and its instrumentalities to adopt the BFS. FPA Deputy Director for Fertilizer, Dr. Myer Mula, explained that the BFS would help in:

• Reducing dependency on the use of traditional fertilizers;
• Improving soil fertility and structure through appropriate combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers; and
• Encouraging local manufacturers to resort on non-traditional fertilizers.

He also presented the activities assigned to each concerned agencies and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) which will be consolidated by the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM). These consolidated programs will be laid in a road map and will be included in OneDA’s operations manual.

Furthermore, the FPA created a Technical Working Group (TWG) which will arrange policy guidelines and directives, oversee the management of BFS programs, and assess the impact of BFS on crop production, fertilizer use and availability, and market price. The TWG shall also be in charge of the promotion, coordination, and establishment of networks, linkages, and partnerships with other agencies, institutions, and stakeholders. The FPA-TWG was also divided into three sub-committees: Fertilizer Watch System, Data Management, and Education and Training.

The Fertilizer Watch System sub-committee will be leading in monitoring fertilizer use, data collection on sales, inventory, prices, supply, and demand. They will also assist in data analysis for planning and dissemination to concerned stakeholders, as well as to inspect fertilizer quality.

The Data Management sub-committee will create, maintain, and update a centralized database for all farmers and farmer cooperatives practicing BFS. They will also be managing the website and social media accounts for promotion, updates, and transparency of the program. They will also be in charge of recording and documentation of BFS-related programs.

The Education and Training sub-committee will be responsible for conducting training and training-related activities to farmers, farmer cooperatives, and other stakeholders on the BFS Program. They shall also be the principal source of publication and articles on BFS to be spread via social media and print.

These initiatives are to bolster the holistic approach of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the OneDA in servicing the Filipino agricultural community and secure the food industry of the country. ###