E. Visayas plans organic fertilzer plants

published March 23, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — The regional government plans to put up organic fertilizer production facilities in a bid to raise rice production in low-yielding farms in Eastern Visayas.

Arman Arcamo, regional coordinator of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), said a total of 129 organic fertilizer production centers will be set up in Eastern Visayas in the next two years. Some 12,900 hectares of low-yielding rice farms are expected to benefit.

Each facility will provide institutional support to farmers groups and local governments to produce their own organic fertilizer and enable farmers to apply the recommended amount of fertilizer in their fields, Mr. Arcamo said.

Of the 129 units planned in the region, 18 will be in Eastern Samar, 14 in Northern Samar, 30 in Samar, 41 in Leyte, 18 in Southern Leyte, and eight in Biliran. The first set will be delivered within the first half of the year.

The project will give priority to areas where yield is less than the national average of 3.8 tons per hectares, as well as to fourth, fifth and sixth class municipalities.

"Each facility is capable of providing the requirement of 100 hectares of farm per cropping. It will increase yield by up to 30%," Mr. Arcamo said in an interview.

With the rising cost of commercial fertilizers, he said the project is envisioned to reduce the use of imported chemical fertilizers for rice production by at least two bags per hectare.

The putting up of organic fertilizer production facilities is a cost-reduction strategy that would allow a farmer to save as much as P2,200 to P4,130 in one hectare.

"This will also reduce pollution of soils in agricultural areas with chemical residues, and improve ecological balance through the conversion of farm waste into compost fertilizer," he added.

Leo Cañeda, regional executive director of the Department of Agriculture, said they’ve been promoting the "balanced fertilizer" strategy.

"It advocates the judicious use of a balanced fertilizer combination, without sacrificing the yield targets per hectare per cropping season," Mr. Cañeda said.

The region has 57,000 hectares devoted to rice production, with most of the areas currently supported by inorganic — or chemical — fertilizer.

Organic fertilizers address macronutrient deficiency of the soil in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It also improves soil’s water holding capacity. Thus, it facilitates easy absorption of the needed nutrients by the crop’s roots. — Sarwell Q. Meniano