Agriculture Business Week

The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at University of the Philippines Los Banos (BIOTECH) counts a microbial based fertilizer as its most successfully marketed technology.

Bio-N, a nitrogen supplement for rice, corn and vegetables, is a microbial-based fertilizer composed mainly of living bacteria isolated from the roots of talahib (Saccharum spontaneum).  “Through government support, we have been able to create more than 60 mixing plants for Bio-N to date,” says Dr. Jocelyn T. Zarate, BIOTECH researcher.

With the mixing plants mostly owned by farmers cooperatives in a kind of franchise arrangement with BIOTECH, the technology becomes available to more farmers in the country. “That is to say, farming cooperatives can purchase a single, pack of Bio-N, mix it in the mixing plant, and produce about 20 more packs of Bio-N that they can sell at P60 each,” Zarate says. “So the cooperatives, which shell out around P500,000 per mixing plant, including training and setup, can keep on earning from the Bio-N.”

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Posted on August 11th, 2009 under Organic, Technology. Tags: Bio-N, Biotech, Fertilizer, Microbes, Organic, Technology. Comments: 7

University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Enrico Supangco recently revealed a list of more than 70 UPLB products and technologies which are ready for marketing.

These include around 40 biotechnologies and bio-products, six improved varieties of cassava, two improved varieties of corn, 15 improved varieties of fruits, two lines of hibiscus, two agricultural kits, and two cheese-making technologies.

Supangco said that these products and technologies are “mature and developed,” intended to improve productivity and efficiency in agriculture and to enhance the quality of life.

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Posted on May 12th, 2009 under Organic, Technology. Tags: Bio-N, Fertilizers, Los Banos, UP, UPLB. Comments: None

Several years back, government agriculturists were devolved to the local governments. This, meant that instead of the national government paying for their salaries, it became the responsibility of the municipal governments to give them their assignments as well as their monthly compensation.

On paper, that looks great. After all, it is the local authorities who know what agricultural projects that are appropriate for their own towns, and they could be more efficient in producing positive results. However, it has also its disadvantages. If the mayor, for instance, is not interested in agriculture (as a good number are), farming could be relegated to the back seat. Even if an agriculturist is assigned to a town, he or she could accomplish very little if funds are not allocated for undertaking activities that will benefit the farmers.

On the other hand, if the mayor is supportive to the town’s agriculturist, a lot of good things could happen. Just like the case of Lea Beltran, a lady agriculturist in charge of the Bio-N production center in Tigaon, Camarines Sur. She is well supported by the present mayor, youthful Arnie Fuentebella, and she is doing a very good job in her assignment.

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Posted on January 23rd, 2009 under Organic. Tags: Bio-N, Fertilizer. Comments: 6