SOUTHERN LEYTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 19, 20080 – Local municipal mayors and vice mayors have participated in a recent vermin soil production seminar at the Mindanao State University in Bukidnon province under the sponsorship of Rep. Roger Mercado.
The prohibitive cost of chemical fertilizers has prompted the solon to let each executives of the 18 municipalities and one city to learn about organic fertilizer production in order to reduce the rice and vegetables farmers’ chemical fertilizer expenditures by teaching the latter thru seminars.
Diego Credo, one of Mercado’s staff, said that aside the participants also attended goat and cattle-raising seminars. He said the participants have toured various projects inside the university’s 1,500-hectare campus such as demo farms of rice and corn, fruits and vegetables, cattle ranch, goat raising and the rubber processing plant.
Credo explained that in vermi soil production a specific kind of worm is use in the gradual decomposition of all kinds of biodegradable wastes which were mixed with animal manure.
These two things, he said, is necessary in the production of organic fertilizers which are commonly found in many households and also in the surrounding areas respectively that are being placed in the compost pits.
The worm, called African night crawlers, abounds in Bukidnon and is known to quickly multiply.
He said that in the production of organic fertilizers, many compost pits should be built and filled with needed materials. He said at present, 40 kilos of vermi soil (organic fertilizer) cost about P260 at the Leyte State University which is still cheaper compared to the chemical fertilizer that cost almost P2,000 per 40-kilo bag.
Credo said that for a hectare of rice field, at least 15 bags of vermin soil is needed for the first application and 10 bags for the next and eventually only 8 bags on the third application.
Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco urged other mayors in the province to use what they have learned in Bukidnon regarding organic fertilizer production and to teach farmers in the use of this cheaper alternative to expensive fertilizers.
Some 70 village chieftains in Maasin is expected to go travel to Bukidnon next month to attend a series of seminars on vermi soil production, cattle and goat raising and bio-fuel crop production. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)
The prohibitive cost of chemical fertilizers has prompted the solon to let each executives of the 18 municipalities and one city to learn about organic fertilizer production in order to reduce the rice and vegetables farmers’ chemical fertilizer expenditures by teaching the latter thru seminars.
Diego Credo, one of Mercado’s staff, said that aside the participants also attended goat and cattle-raising seminars. He said the participants have toured various projects inside the university’s 1,500-hectare campus such as demo farms of rice and corn, fruits and vegetables, cattle ranch, goat raising and the rubber processing plant.
Credo explained that in vermi soil production a specific kind of worm is use in the gradual decomposition of all kinds of biodegradable wastes which were mixed with animal manure.
These two things, he said, is necessary in the production of organic fertilizers which are commonly found in many households and also in the surrounding areas respectively that are being placed in the compost pits.
The worm, called African night crawlers, abounds in Bukidnon and is known to quickly multiply.
He said that in the production of organic fertilizers, many compost pits should be built and filled with needed materials. He said at present, 40 kilos of vermi soil (organic fertilizer) cost about P260 at the Leyte State University which is still cheaper compared to the chemical fertilizer that cost almost P2,000 per 40-kilo bag.
Credo said that for a hectare of rice field, at least 15 bags of vermin soil is needed for the first application and 10 bags for the next and eventually only 8 bags on the third application.
Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco urged other mayors in the province to use what they have learned in Bukidnon regarding organic fertilizer production and to teach farmers in the use of this cheaper alternative to expensive fertilizers.
Some 70 village chieftains in Maasin is expected to go travel to Bukidnon next month to attend a series of seminars on vermi soil production, cattle and goat raising and bio-fuel crop production. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)
