The Department of Agriculture assured the public that the Philippines has enough fertilizer supply and alternative farm inputs despite fears of shortages linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government had already begun expanding the use of liquid fertilizers, biofertilizers and soil ameliorants even before tensions in the Middle East intensified in late February.
According to Tiu Laurel, local agricultural specialists are already producing commercial quantities of a biofertilizer developed by researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños’s National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
He said one kilogram of the biofertilizer can replace two 50-kilo bags of urea-based fertilizer. The product costs about P750 per kilo, significantly lower than the current price of around P2,500 for one bag of complete 14-14-14 fertilizer.
Tiu Laurel stressed that supply is not expected to be a major issue because only around 20 percent of the country’s imported fertilizers pass through Middle Eastern trade routes.
The Agriculture chief added that field tests using bio-based and nanotechnology-driven inputs showed that farmers could reduce their use of traditional urea without lowering crop yields.
“If you used to apply 10 sacks of urea, you might now be able to use only half or even just three,” Tiu Laurel said.
However, he said the greater concern is the possible increase in fertilizer prices due to higher oil prices, shipping costs and uncertainty in global markets.
“I reviewed all the figures on where our fertilizer comes from… supply is not the issue—it’s really the price,” Tiu Laurel said.
The DA expects higher transport and logistics costs to increase the prices of agricultural products by around P2 to P5 per kilogram.
Rice is expected to be the most affected because of its heavy dependence on fertilizer, while highland vegetables may post smaller price increases. Corn farmers, meanwhile, may be able to rely more on alternative inputs to maintain production.
Despite the possible price hikes, Tiu Laurel said the DA is continuing to develop measures to stabilize supply and protect consumers from steeper increases.
