To Promote Food Production

Japan Donates 13,500
Tons of Fertilizers

Tokyo has turned over another 13,500 metric tons of fertilizers to the Philippines that form part of the P253 million (480 million yen) worth of grants. The total is 26,135 metric tons donated to Manila under the 31st Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers Program, according to Agriculture Undersecretary Bernie Fondevilla.

The Japanese government earlier turned over 6,000 metric tons of ammonium sulfate fertilizers, a part of this grant, to farmers with small landholdings.

Fondevilla, who is also chief of staff at the Department of Agriculture (DA) and executive director of the National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC), said the procurement was done through the 31st Japan Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers Program, formerly known as 2KR or Japan ‘s Increased Food Production Program.

The turnover of the fertilizers on a staggered basis is being done by the Japanese government through NAFC, Fondevilla said.

Farmers with landholdings of two hectares and below in 14 provinces selected by the DA are the target-beneficiaries of the program, he added.
"The target users of the fertilizer are palay farmers who are using certified and good seeds in areas covered by the GMA (Ginintuang Masaganang Ani) Rice Program in Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and the Davao Region," Fondevilla revealed.

The procurement, which is now the third shipment under the program, will benefit farmers in the typhoon-hit provinces of Northern Luzon. These include Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Cagayan and La Union.

The second shipment benefited farmers in Iloilo and Negros Occidental.
The first shipment, which arrived last September benefited farmers in Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, South Cotabato and Bukidnon, he added.
The last shipment of 7,500 metric tons is expected to arrive in Subic port, Zambales on Dec. 14 to be allocated to low-income farmers in Tarlac, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.

Fondevilla said a monitoring system will be established by both the Philippine government and the Japanese Embassy in Manila to check the distribution of the fertilizers and ensure that they reach the target beneficiaries.

According to Fondevilla, the Exchange of Notes between the Japanese and Philippine governments covering this fertilizer grant was signed last March 30.

As part of the agreement, the Philippine government will monetize the ammonium sulphate fertilizer by selling it in the local market.

The approximate peso proceeds from the sale amounting to P162 million will be utilized by the DA and the National Economic and Develop-ment Authority (NEDA) to fund social development and agricultural and fishery development projects in poor communities.

The supplier for the fertilizers is Mitsubishi Corporation, which won the supply tender held in Japan on July 10, 2009 conducted by the Japan International Cooperation System, the Procurement Management Agent for the program, Fondevilla said.

Earlier, the Japanese government also provided P2.1 million worth of postharvest facilities that aim to promote organic rice farming in the region.

Fondevilla said the postharvest facilities, located in Barangay Salngan, Passi City in Iloilo , is expected to benefit 108 marginal farmers and their families by increasing organic rice production and promoting rice-based enterprises.

The considerable use of agricultural chemicals has led to a decline in rice yields in Passi City ‘s palay areas. Farmers are shifting back to organic farming to reinject nutrients in farm soils.

The postharvest facilities, which are funded under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, were formally turned over by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, Makato Katsura in ceremonies held in Iloilo City recently. / MP