TUGUEGARAO CITY | April 22, 2022 – The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Cagayan Valley (RFU 2) discussed the current fertilizer situation with the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Camalaniugan, Cagayan on April 21, 2022 during an intervention initiated by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office II.

Farmers voiced their concerns about the fertilizer price increase in their community. The Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Food and Agriculture, in turn, referred the issue to the DA office for a formal discussion.

According to Provincial Officer Arwin Cardenas, the region’s fertilizer price increase was caused by the following factors:

• increased fertilizer demand by other countries such as Australia, India, the United States, and China;
• gas shortages in Europe caused an increase in energy prices, causing them to reduce production operations; 
• sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war; and
• an increase in transportation and logistics costs

He assured the residents that the DA and the FPA are taking steps to alleviate these concerns by providing farm inputs such as fertilizers and seeds and promoting balanced fertilization strategies so that farmers do not rely solely on inorganic fertilizers.

Jaime C. Romero, Chairman of the Sangguniang Bayan of Camalaniugan’s Committee on Food and Agriculture, thanked the DA and FPA for enlightenment and continuing support to their constituents.