FPA pushes balanced fertilization strategies

MANILA, Philippines — The Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) is urging the use of balanced fertilization strategies (BFS) to aid farmers hit by the continued rise of fertilizer prices.

“With the concern on the rising fertilizer prices, the FPA recommends and encourages BFS to alleviate the suffering of local farmers,”the FPA said in a statement.

Balanced fertilization refers to the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers based on crop and soil nutrient content.

FPA deputy director for Fertilizer Myer Mula said the use of BFS would help reduce dependency on the use of traditional fertilizers.

He added that this would also help to improve soil fertility and structure through appropriate combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers.

In line with its push for BFS, the FPA created a Technical Working Group (TWG) which will arrange policy guidelines and directives, oversee the management of BFS programs, and assess the impact of BFS on crop production, fertilizer use and availability, and market price.

“The TWG shall also be in charge of the promotion, coordination, and establishment of networks, linkages, and partnerships with other agencies, institutions, and stakeholders,”the FPA said.

The FPA-TWG is divided into three sub-committees: Fertilizer Watch System, Data Management, and Education and Training.

The Fertilizer Watch System sub-committee will be leading in monitoring fertilizer use, data collection on sales, inventory, prices, supply, and demand.

It will also assist in data analysis for planning and dissemination to concerned stakeholders, as well as to inspect fertilizer quality.

The Data Management sub-committee, on the other hand, will create, maintain, and update a centralized database for all farmers and farmer cooperatives practicing BFS.

It will also manage the website and social media accounts for promotion, updates, and transparency of the program. They will also be in charge of recording and documentation of BFS-related programs.

The Education and Training sub-committee, on the other hand, will be responsible for conducting training and training-related activities to farmers, farmer cooperatives, and other stakeholders on the BFS Program.

It shall also be the principal source of publication and articles on BFS to be spread via social media and print.

“These initiatives are to bolster the holistic approach of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and OneDA in servicing the Filipino agricultural community and secure the food industry of the country,”the FPA said.