Lacson wants better research funding for cost-effective fertilizers

MANILA, Philippines — Better research and development funding could help the innovation of more cost-effective organic fertilizers that local farmers can use for their crops, presidential bet Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.

In an interview with a Zamboanga City-based online radio station earlier this week, Lacson said he is actively supporting farmers and fisherfolk by referring them to institutions like the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UP-Biotech) to find low-cost fertilizers.

Problems over the high costs of conventional fertilizers were among the typical concerns raised by farmers and agricultural workers to Lacson and vice presidential running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III during their town hall meetings before the Holy Week break.

Lacson and Sotto have been instrumental in augmenting the national budget allocation for UP-Biotech, increasing its funding for research and development. This led to the innovation of more cost-effective organic fertilizers that local farmers can use for their crops.

“They were very enthusiastic when they learned that we were connecting farmers to them… If only the Department of Agriculture can support them to upscale the production, distribution and application of their biofertilizers,” he said.

According to Horizon magazine, the official publication of UP Los Baños, researchers from the UP-Biotech have developed biofertilizers such as Nutrio for sugarcane and Mykovam for trees, crops and ornamental plants, which are eco-friendly and are sold cheaper than petrochemical fertilizers.

Lacson is hoping more farmers would choose organic and locally developed fertilizers to boost food production.

“This way, workers in the agricultural sector could save up to P3.57 billion in production costs,” he said.

Lacson reiterated his plans to increase appropriations for the R&D sector – from a mere 0.4 percent share in the national budget to at least two or three percent of gross domestic product – to help farmers and fisherfolk achieve food security.

Aside from developing organic fertilizers, UP-Biotech also has a program called Project SARAI (Smarter Approaches to Reinvigorate Agriculture as an Industry), which trains farmers in using technology to facilitate their crop irrigation needs through water management.