New agri product lessens crop woes

AGOO, La Union – Agriculture technicians and leaders of the farming community are looking forward to better crop yield with the introduction in the country of a new product especially designed to reinvigorate the soil condition of farm lands. Earlier introduced in the local market as "Exquisite BD Soil Conditioner", the product is now fast gaining popularity among tobacco, palay, garlic and vegetable growers in the Ilocos region.

According to K. F. Chong, president and group chairman of Exquisite Focus Phils., Inc., the product first revolutionized high-yield farming in the Uninted States, and gained acceptance as main crop inducer in Asia, particularly Malaysia, Brunei and China.

"It is a product that will help and solve the present woes in agriculture in the Philippines," Chong said, as he noted the sharp decline in crop productivity in most of the country’s farmlands.

The effectivity of "Exquisite" in helping rejuvenate soil fertility was first tested in a multi-cropped farm in Bauang, La Union owned by multi-awarded farmer Rogelio Ramos where it was found out that crop harvest was made at least two to three weeks earlier than the normal cropping period.

It was also found out that fertilizer use was dramatically reduced by 20 to 50 percent, thus cutting cost of farm inputs.

Using "Exquisite" cured the adverse effects spawned by chemical fertilizers and pesticides and restored the soil’s original micro-ecological balance damaged by the disease spread by the soil, Ramos explained.

With the country facing the El Niño phenomenon, "Exquisite" could provide the answer as plants treated with it can withstand even 50 percent decline of water supply, studies by agricultural researchers in South Africa showed. There was a notable reduction in water usage throughout the growing cycle.

The studies further showed that plants treated with the product, unlike the non-treated ones, survived better the typhoon whips.

"Exquisite" proved to be a gem in huge rise in farm yields by as much as 30 to 35 percent.

Quality and quantity are also assured, as the produced goods are bigger in size, and bring back its natural taste, the crops and fruits have longer shelf life.

Plants treated are healthier, have more roots which are longer, stems are bigger and more tillers in the rice plants, the leaves very deep green, larger, thicker, and they appeared more homogenous. The plants also have a longer shelf life.

"Exquisite" was exhibited during the trade fair for the 25th anniversary of the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority in Quezon City.