Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat | June 30, 2022 – Deputy Executive Director for Fertilizer, Dr. Myer Mula, and FPA SOCCKSARGEN visited Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat last June 27-29, 2022, to promote the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS). The activity was in collaboration with the Special Area for Agricultural Development Program (SAAD).

Regional Officer (RO) Alita C. Bornea discussed the FPA mandates and promoted the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) to 44 farmers at Tupi, South Cotabato, last June 27, 2022. BFS is a program established by the Department of Agriculture which pushes for the use of combined organic and inorganic inputs and other forms of strategy to attain the maximum potential of farmlands while promoting balanced fertilization in maintaining soil fertility. It is an alternative way to lessen the dependence on imported and inorganic fertilizers. 

On June 28, 2022, Provincial Officers (PO) Cherubin Alonzo and Joey Pascua talked about the mandates of the Agency and explained the importance of BFS to the 24 indigenous members of the Blat Farmers Association. The activity was conducted at B’lat Sampipit, Maasim, Sarangani. Further, PO Alonzo encouraged the farmers to use their farm foliage, such as corn stalks and husk, as organic fertilizers. In that way, farmers can lessen their expenses in buying inorganic fertilizers.  

On June 29, 2022, the team visited different farmers associations to wit:

• Baluan Farmers Association, with 40 members
• Baluan Manobo Dulangan Mongnagen Association, with 20 members
• Medul-Langdo Irrigators Association, with 47 members

PO Pascua discussed the FPA mandates to the farmers and encouraged them to venture into the agricultural supply business through the help of their associations. 

While, PO Alonzo introduced to the farmers the importance of the BFS in decreasing the reliance on inorganic inputs to cut down their production costs. Furthermore, various alternative fertilizers and cultivation strategies were introduced to address the rising costs of agricultural inputs.

“By providing interventions, let us monitor and guide them. Let us not leave them behind,” Dir. Mula stated as a closing to his visit to the region. ###