Planters Products Inc., once one of the biggest corporations in the country whose majority stocks are now owned by Filipinos farmers, marked its return to the fertilizer business with the launching of its “Abono sa Uma” (Fertilizer for the Farm) loaning program in M’lang, North Cotabato.
Yesterday’s launching activity marks the start of a nation-wide fertilizer loaning program which would.allow rice and corn farmers to avail of between 6 to 10 bags of fertilizers payable after harvest.
PPI President Domingo Duerme, who led PPI officials in distributing bags of fertilizers to the first batch of about 2,000 farmers, said the program aims to contribute to the Department of Agriculture’s goal of increasing rice and corn production in the country.
The national average yield for rice is 4.15-metric tons per hectare per harvest and 4 metric tons for corn.
The rice program aims to increase the average per hectare yield to 200 cavans or 10 metric tons for irrigated areas under the Masaganang Ani 200.
The corn program aims to increase the per hectare yield to 8 metric tons.
In areas where farmers have access to sufficient irrigation water and fertilizer and plant hybrid seeds, the average yield has reached as much as 11 to 12 metric tons.
A recent harvest in Buguey, Cagayan Valley where farmers used hybrid seeds and had access to irrigation water and fertilizer, the average yield was 215 cavans of 50 kilos.
The fertilizer loaning program launched in Mlang yesterday was the pilot project where PPI would determine the payment rate of the farmers and the improvement of their produce.
PPI has designated One Network Bank to receive the payments.
When proven successful, the loaning program will be expanded nationwide next planting season.
PPI, a private corporation which was sequestered by government, is placed under the administrative control of the Dept. of Agriculture and Fisheries.
(Photos by Mayette Tudlas shows the launching of the fertilizer loaning program yesterday.)
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