(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — Agricultural group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Sunday warned that the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) memorandum order on the use of biofertilizers may result in another fertilizer scam.
Released on April 27, the DA’s Memorandum Order No. 32 sets the guidelines on the distribution and use of biofertilizers this year to improve rice production.
In the memorandum order, the DA said the use of two bags of inorganic fertilizer urea per hectare costs ₱4,000 while its selected biofertilizer “can substitute for at least two bags of urea without sacrificing the yield.”
“Theoretically, a savings of more than ₱2,000 per hectare can be realized if the cost of biofertilizer is less than ₱2,000 per hectare,” the DA said.
“If the biofertilizer chosen by the DA-RFOs (regional field offices) is less expensive, the fertilizer savings is increased,” it added… Read More
