Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Town earns P2.5 million in BIO-N production
ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao -- The Municipal Government here is earning P2.5 million in a signed contract with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the production of 40,440 packets of BIO-N needed as rice and corn requirements for Cordillera farmers.
Municipal Agriculturist Silvestre Ildefonso said this earning initiative was initially intended to produce inorganic fertilizers needed by local corn farmers. But this has grown to be the producer of fertilizer supplying the needs of the farmers region-wide.
BIO-N comes in powder form in a handy 200-gram packet, which is meant for either seed inoculation, direct broadcasting over the seeds or mixed with water as root dip. It is a microbial-based fertilizer for rice, corn and other agricultural crops.
It is a breakthrough technology that promises significant impact on the country's farmers in terms of increasing farm productivity and income as well as saving the country's dollar reserve due to decreased importation of fertilizer.
Ildefonso said most local farmers are now using this fertilizer, which has increased their yield as confirmed by recent reports in excess of corn production by farmers in this town as released by the National Food Authority (NFA).
He added that the establishment of the BIO-N technology and mixing plant has created job opportunities for 15 individuals during the duration of the production cycle and are being paid at government pay standards.
Ildefonso said local farmers are thankful of the great impact this has brought to agriculture in their area and thank the government for coming up with a project that has uplifted their lifestyles with their increased earnings.
Production of the fertilizer requirement contracted with the DA regional office starts this month in time for the planting season this year.
