SMB donates sludge to push organic farming

CEBU, Philippines - With their mutual endeavor to encourage organic farming in communities, the private sector and the local government promoted the environment-friendly practice of dewatered sludge composting.

Last February 8, San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMBI) signed a memorandum of agreement between IPI Foundation and the Mandaue City and Cebu City governments.

SMBI Mandaue plant manager Ricardo Tablante said that their advocacy of donating sludge to communities daily as part of their compost practices exemplifies the “turning trash into cash” concept.

Cebu City agriculturist Joey Baclayon said that they started getting sludge from SMBI six years ago and the MOA signing is just to formalize their continued agreement and institutionalize their partnership.

SMBI produces the dewatered sludge as part of their waste water treatment wherein they use organic bacteria to digest all organic waste.

The waste product of their beer is ideal for organic farming since it is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

The dewatered sludge was first introduced to farms and farmers in Cebu City upland barangays.

Baclayon added that it was initially used in growing vegetables but eventually helped speed up the production of cut flowers and other crops such as corn.

SMBI donates four tons of dewatered sludge to organic farmers in Mandaue and Cebu cities.

Baclayon said that the recommended volume per hectare calls for eight tons of sludge.

He cited that there is a high demand for organic farm produce which increases at an average rate of 10 to 20 percent everyday.

However, he said that they have insufficient supply to address the 60% demand which is mostly from local establishments, hotels and restaurants.

He said that there are 15,000 farmers in 28 barangays in Cebu.

Out of this figure, there are 1,800 farmers who practice organic farming using the sludge from SMBI.

Baclayon then urged other farmers to go into organic farming.

He further noted that the sludge from SMC is richer than commercial fertilizers and helps organic farmers maintain the fertility of the soil and enhance their healthy production.

Organic farming, he added, is an environment-friendly farm practice that minimizes cost for farmers since there are existing, available resources for them.

Subangdaku chair Ernie Manatad also shared the testimonies of barangay farmers who have acquired positive results by using the dewatered sludge.

He cited that there are 35 farmers who responded to the call of the Mandaue City government towards the promotion of organic farming.

“It has been the farmers’ challenge on how to maintain the fertility of the soil since it decreases its quality during the farming cycle. So we thanked SMBI for giving us the sludge, saving us from costly and laborious farm practices,” he said.

He added that there are also farmers who combine urban agriculture and organic farming using dewatered sludge and vermicast.

Among those who witnessed the MOA signing were farmers Manuel Labrador from Barangay Babag, Cebu City, EmelioSecretaria from Sudlon 2 and Rowena Zanoria from Adlaon.

They have gained recognition and awards as outstanding farmers by producing locally-grown organic food using the sludge.

As part of their environmental projects, IPI Foundation also set up an organic demo garden using SMBI dewatered sludge at Tingub,Mandaue City and promoting organic farming to prevent further deterioration of the environment. (FREEMAN)