As the world’s Food Security is threatened by the meteoric rise of chemical fertilizer prices, our government must develop and fund our organic fertilizer production, especially Seaweed-based fertilizers.
The Philippines is ranked No. 3 in the world in seaweeds production but its flawed policies on Agriculture and Fisheries neglected the natural fertilizer production program with the country importing 2.82-million metric tons of chemical fertilizer every year which, at current market prices, would be worth P300-B.
The need to rediscover natural plant nutrition formulation and Seaweeds becomes urgent in the face of a worldwide fertilizer shortage which could result in low agricultural production and widespread famine.
There are already commercially available Seaweed-based fertilizers but these are mostly processed by small groups of organic farmers who barely receive support from government.
The Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), for example, has developed a natural fertilizer derived from the drippings of Kappaphycus alvarezii.
Reports say the SPAMAST developed natural fertilizer which is commercially available as Kappaphycus Drippings or KD Foliar Fertilizer increased “the yield of rice, baby corn, soybean, mungbean, sweet pepper, cauliflower, mango, pechay, and orchid.”
“A kilo of Kappaphycus seaweed can yield up to 650ml liquid fertilizer. It contains nutrients that contribute to soil fertility, including nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese,” the report added.
Most of these accounts, however, are merely anecdotal with very little attempt to establish accurate nutrient measurements like in commercial inorganic complete fertilizer which carries 16-16-16 of N-P-K.
The biggest challenge in exploiting this potential billion-peso industry which could also address poverty levels in the coastal communities is the lack of cohesive effort on the part of government.
Research, for example, is done either by the Dept. of Science and Technology or institutions like SPAMAST, Regulation is handled by the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority while the Department of Agriculture hardly promotes the use of locally formulated natural fertilizers.
Nobody handles financing and production support.
Kadalasan ang mga inventors ng mga natural fertilizers ay kailangan pang ilako ang kanilang mga produkto dahil kulang ng suporta sa gobyerno.
There should be a legislated national program focusing on a coordinated and well-funded research and development, financing for production and promotion of the Seaweed-based natural fertilizer.
Marami tayong mga eksperto pero napakabagal nating kumilos and we are very slow in responding to openings of opportunities.
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