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Siquijor
pushes for wide use of Bio-N as farmers get orders
Barely
a week after the turn-over of a Bio-N mixing plant in Lazi,
Siquijor, the Tagmanocan Farmers Association is now receiving
more orders from the local government units of the province
and from Dumaguete.
During
its turnover and launching ceremony, Siquijor Governor Orlando
“Shane” Fua Jr. pushed for use of Bio-N in place
of massive chemical farming that has negative impact not only
on the poor farmer’s pocket but on human health and
environment. He said part of the government’s agricultural
revolution today is the introduction of organic farming, which
brought the Bio-N facility to the province.
President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also made a strong pitch today for
organic fertilizers to help the country’s farmers cope
with the high cost of chemical fertilizers particularly urea,
whose price had skyrocketed by 200 percent in the last two
years.
“Urea
is oil-based and we know the price of oil today. So ang gagawin
natin ngayon massive investment in organic fertilizer,”
the President said.
The
Chief Executive said farmers should be encouraged to replicate
the practice of other farmers who use chicken dung as fertilizer.
Chicken dung has been found to be as effective as urea, she
said.
Gov.
Fua’s call is also supported by his father Congressman
Orlando B. Fua who pledged P1 million to purchase the first
three months production of Bio-N in Siquijor and give them
to the local farmers for free so that they can attest to the
efficacy of the fertilizer.
A 200 gram packet of BIO-N is sold at P60.
The
provincial leaders also thanked the President for providing
farmers in their areas with agricultural facilities.
The
President assured that the national government will provide
provinces with certified seeds and organic fertilizers so
that farmers can plant right after this harvest season.
In
the face of the global food situation, the President earlier
ordered a stepped up food production under a six-assistance
program to make food abundant, accessible and affordable.
The
program is called FIELDS — for Fertilizer, Irrigation,
Infrastructure, Extension and Education, Loans, Dryers and
other post-harvest and post-production facilities, and S for
seeds and other genetic materials.
The
President has allocated P500 million from the Agricultural
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) for fertilizer support
and production, especially organic fertilizers.
The
President said billions more would be spent on infrastructure
such as ports, airports, farm-to-market roads and the rehabilitation
and establishment of new irrigation systems.
Meanwhile,
the Philippines called for international action to address
food security concerns and other pressing global issues that
affect trade and development, including migration and climate
change.
Speaking
for the Asian Group at the 12th United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Accra, Ghana, Philippine
Ambassador Erlinda F. Basilio underscored the urgency of international
cooperation in coming to grips with the tightening food supply
worldwide.
Basilio,
who heads the Philippine delegation to the UNCTAD, echoed
the call of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the international
community to adopt a concerted strategy to tackle the global
issues of food security, climate change and migration. (Rizalie
A. Calibo/PIA)
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