Ilocos Sur to import fertilizers

VIGAN CITY – Alarmed by the skyrocketing cost of fertilizer, Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor “DV” Savellano announced that the provincial government would be importing the fertilizer requirements of farmers directly from countries supplying the farm input.

Savellano said he took note of how the prohibitive costs of fertilizer and other inputs are burdening the farmers and consequently, due to the increased production costs, the consumers who have to contend with high prices of rice and other food products.

“This is the best way we can help the farmers and, after the production costs are reduced, the general public is benefitted with the selling prices of farm products going down,” Savellano told newsmen.

He said he has made initial talks with executives of a fertilizer distributing firm based in Thailand that sources out its supply from Qatar. The said firm is the accredited distributor of the fertilizer product in the Asian region, he said.

Savellano is upbeat over the prospects of his importation project saying he expects the cost of the farm input reduced by 50 percent of its prevailing market price when it reaches the hands of Ilocos Sur farmers.

He said he had sounded out concerned government agencies to allow the fertilizer importation adding that he doesn’t see any problem considering that Ilocos Sur farmers are the country’s top producers of virginia tobacco, apart from rice, corn and vegetables.

It was learned that current prices of commercial fertilizer have skyrocketed to P2,650 a bag for the 10-15-20 type and P1,910 for type 46-0-0.

The governor said that with fertilizer becoming affordable to the farmers, he foresees increased farming activities that would also result in a higher volume of farm production enhancing food security.

The Ilocos Sur Mayors’ League headed by Narvacan Mayor Edgardo Zaragoza expressed support to Savellano’s move. – Teddy Molina