DA backs use of hybrid fertilizer mix

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging farmers to adopt its "Tipid-Abono" project to help them beat the rising cost of petroleum-based fertilizers.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said adopting the program will enable farmers to cushion the spiraling cost of fertilizer. Fertilizers, especially the petroleum-based types with urea and ammonium sulfate commonly used by farmers, have gone up by an average of P200 per bag from last year as crude oil prices in the world market steadily posted increases this year.

The high price of oil in the international market, increased demand, and peso devaluation all contributed in pushing up production inputs.

Fertilizer import price in 2003 was $174 per metric tons (MT) at the exchange rate of $1:P54. This year, the import price for fertilizer increased to $236 per MT but the peso value depreciated to P56.50 to P57 against the US dollar.

The project, which was launched last September, encourages the judicious and balanced application of chemical and organic fertilizer and applying these at the right time, quantity and condition.

Yap also noted that the inadequate transport and distribution facilities also contributed to the increasing cost of fertilizer and is being aggravated by the peak in demand which coincides with the monsoon months.

Aside from reducing the cost of production, the project is also targeting to increase the yield per hectare from 5-7 tons to support the country’s food sufficiency program.

The program also encourages farmers to use hybrid and certified seeds. Through the program, only three to four bags of fertilizers are recommended per hectare compared to current practice of six to nine bags per hectare mixed with five bags of organic fertilizers.

This will reduce the cost of production of rice and corn, the country’s major staples, by as much as P2,200 to P14,230 per hectare.

Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) director Rogelio Concepcion said that the program will serve as a tool to help farmers choose the right type of fertilizers to be used from a list that will be distributed by the BWSM. The reformulated balanced fertilization strategy ensures optimum crop yields and better income without causing decline in soil fertility, he added.

Aside from fertilizer recommendations and proper timing of application, farmers will be able to save on cost of production through the use of technologies such as the leaf color chart (LCC) developed by PhilRice and soil testing kits (SST) of the BSWM.