MARINDUQUE | September 12, 2022 – A total of 503 rice farmers were reached as FPA RFU IV joined the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) fertilizer distribution through Fertilizer Discount Voucher Program in Boac on September 2, 2022, in Mogpog on September 6-7, 2022, and in Gasan on September 8-9, 2022, municipalities of Marinduque.

Dr. Lucila J. Vasquez of DA IVB – Agricultural Program Coordinating Office of Marinduque spearheaded the program, together with Agriculturists Mr. Isabelo M. Zamora and Mr. Rafaim L. Regis of the Rice Banner program, and assisted by Mr. Edilberto De Luna from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist through the Rice Focal Person Ms. Sherry Dee L. Marciano and different Municipal Agriculture Offices.

As part of the program, the FPA Provincial Officer (PO) Mark Nicky S. Larga discussed the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) Program and provided updates on the fertilizer price situation and proliferation of fake fertilizers.

BFS is a strategy recommended by DA to address the problems of the rising cost of fertilizer, land degradation, and decline in soil fertility through adjustments in the cropping and management systems. Through BFS, FPA and DA aims to lessen the dependency on commonly used chemical fertilizer and give enough balanced nutrients for plant growth.

Since soil analysis is very important in this strategy, PO Larga informed the farmers that they could use technologies such as leaf color chart which is also now available on android application, rice crop manager, and soil test kit. To support the campaign, DA APCO provided foliar fertilizer to rice farmer beneficiaries.

PO Larga also reminded the farmers to be cautious in buying fertilizer products and only purchase from a licensed dealer. Fortunately, there were no fake products identified by the time the FPA conducted inspection and monitoring of handlers in Marinduque.

In addition, information materials such as Abonong Swak of the Department of Agriculture, Gabay sa Tamang Pagggamit ng Abono at Gabay sa Tamang Paggamit ng Pestisidyo were given to the farmers. Actual inspection and random weighing of fertilizer products were also done before the distribution proper. ###