ISABELA | May 27, 2022 – Provincial Officer (PO) Noel Baliuag Jr. conducted fertilizer sampling in Mallig and Aurora Isabela last May 25-26, 2022 for the regular monitoring of the quality of fertilizer sold in the region.

Collected samples included locally manufactured fertilizers like vine agro 16-20-0 and 14-14-14, Macotta 14-14-14, and Wil-grow 8-6-8. The samples were processed and packed to be submitted to the FPA Laboratory Services Division (LSD) for analysis. The samples collected will be checked for nutrient content and their labeling.

The month of May is the onset of the planting season in the region for crops like rice and corn. Considering the vast harvest area of 613,121.35 and 432,924.46 hectares allocated solely for rice and corn respectively, the region would need large volumes of fertilizer every year to meet the required amount to supplement the farms. However, with the shortage of fertilizer, especially of 14-14-14 and 46-0-0, the FPA encouraged and strengthened local chemical formulators to aid with the problem.

“It is timely because we are now at the onset of planting season in our region, it is also imperative to monitor the quality of fertilizer being sold so that the nutrient requirement of the soil and the needed nutrient of the plant are met”, PO Baliuag said.