Province to give organic fertilizer

Distributing organic fertilizer is one way to address the farmers’ concerns about rising prices of fertilizers, said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Garcia has ordered the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office to implement a specific program on the matter considering that the department has a list of farmers per municipality.

Provincial agriculturist Necias Vicoy said that they have been advocating the use of organic fertilizer, which is cheaper than commercial ones.  Moreover, the organic fertilizer will also rehabilitate the soil.

Vicoy said they will intensify their education campaign on the issue but Garcia wants more than just education campaign.

“It’s time to get more serious about this.  We don’t just give advice that would be lackadaisical.  We come out with our own demo farm to show them that it works,” Garcia said.

During a meeting with the department heads, Capitol consultant retired colonel Cesar Veloso said that he has a poultry farm and can give as much as 2,000 sacks of chicken manure a month free.

“If Col. Veloso could give us that, then I’m sure there are others who can be tapped. Let’s collect all these, make targets of how many farmers and how many thousand bags. Let’s come up with a clear, define program on fertilizer distribution,” said Garcia.

Garcia, who planned to meet with all mayors and other local officials this June 24 for the Provincial Development Council meeting, also wants to be apprised of the progress of each town’s program for mass production of sweet potatoes.

Strengthening the Capitol’s support for agriculture is one of the ways it sees to help cushion the impact of increasing prices of rice and other commodities.

Garcia already warned all local government units that she will recall the financial assistance given to them for the program if, until now, they still fail to implement the mass production of sweet potatoes.

Garcia stressed that Capitol is bent on helping the poor address the spiraling cost of rice.

The province is expected to launch a contest for the mass production of sweet potatoes, a major component of the alternative to rice, which is Sinanduloy or boiled rice mixed with sweet potatoes.

The provincial government released a financial assistance of P100,000 to each municipality and component city so that the LGUs will buy sweet potatoes and distribute this to indigents at subsidized rates.

Another P100,000 was given for each LGUs for them to establish NFA rice distribution centers.

“Ang wa molihok, bawion ang P100,000. We can’t just keep on talking.  This is a matter of looking at what we have, and what we can do. It’s time to act, and we acted two months ago,” she added.  —Garry B. Lao/BRP