NEGROS OCCIDENTAL | June 29, 2022 – Deputy Executive Director (DED) of Fertilizer Dr. Myer Mula and Provincial Officer (PO) Francis Felimon Villamon discussed the current fertilizer situation to 183 farmers in Negros Occidental during the 3-day activity together with the Special Area for Agricultural Development Program (SAAD).

As the Philippines imports 90% of its fertilizers, global issues greatly affect its market price. Worldwide concerns such as the restrictions brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukraine war, and the rising fuel prices limited the country’s access to fertilizer.

As a form of response to the issue, PO Villamon encouraged the practice of the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS). This strategy would improve soil fertility and structure through an appropriate combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers, and other means like green manuring.

However, to make BFS effective, the soil should be tested to determine which fertilizers are needed since various soils have varying nutrient content.  

Moreover, Dr. Mula advised the farmers to utilize organic fertilizers by using their farm wastes, such as chicken manure and leguminous crops as a possible substitute for inorganic fertilizers. This will lessen the dependency on imported fertilizer, thus reducing the production cost.

Attendees of the activity were members of the following farmer associations:

• Pandanon Integrated Upland Small Farmers’ Association (PIUSFA)
• Barangay Ani-e Small Farmers’ Association (BASFA)
• Sagasa Integrated Fisherfolk’s Association (SASIFA)
• Mahilum Owakon Basag Corn Farmers’ Association (MOBACFA)
• Barangay Bandila Canubgan Farmers’ Association (BBCAFA)

The farmer associations were encouraged to become fertilizer and pesticide dealers for a collective acquisition of agricultural inputs and generation of income.  ###