Organic fertilizer production and use program launched

The National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC) has launched a P25-million program – called "Organikong Abono, Tulong sa Magsasakang Pilipino Project" – for a much bigger version of organic fertilizer production and use in the country's farming sectors by the Department of Agriculture.

NFAC deputy executive director Carlito P. Fernendez says the program is the agency's contribution to Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap's initiative of lowering the cost of fertilization, improving soil condition and increasing farmers’ incomes. The program is in consonance with Yap's major iniative the Tipid Abono Program.

The program involves some 25,000 farmers in about 25,000 hectares in 36 Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-Rice (GMA-Rice) provinces. It has been used starting November 2004 up to October 2005. The program has two components the loan assistance for organic fertilizer technology adopters and loan assistance to organic fertilizer producers. Farmers may avail for themselves under the loan assistance for technology developers, concessional loans from a special credit window put up jointly by DA-NAFC and Quedancor. An initial P15 million deposited by NAFC will be managed by Quedancor.

The producers are expected to provide organic fertilizers to farmers on soft loans for three years and pay back the funds in three years. The program participants are member-producers of organic fertilizer umbrella organizations, Organic Fertilizer Manufacturers Association and Organic Producers and Traders Association.

Among the members of the two organizations are Fabcon Phil. Inc.; Romarc Enterprises Sander's Organic Fertilizer Manufacturer, Manila Fertilizer, Inc.; Sagana 100 Phil. Inc., Nutri-Growth Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc.; and Galactic Resources Development Corp.

The program is backed up by the following agencies: GMA Rice program directorate. Quedancor, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, National Food Authority, DA Regional Field Units and local government Units (LGUs) and Agricultural and Fishery Councils for program monitoring. — Ramon Ma. Espino