Nelson Morales

Farmers tend to their rice paddy as the Mayon Volcano is obscured by heavy rainclouds on Friday, January 26, 2018. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Agri dept in talks with China on buying fertilizer as Mideast conflict tightens supplies

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is in talks with China on obtaining fertilizer, citing the need for urea, a nitrogen fertilizer the Philippines imports, amid tensions in the Middle East.Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro added that they forwarded a request so the Philippines could receive fertilizer from China.“Ang urea or Nitrogen– ito ‘yung fuel-based. So ito ‘yung ini-import natin,” Navarro told lawmakers during a meeting under the House Committee on Agriculture and Food on Tuesday.“As we speak now, si Secretary [Francisco Tiu-Laurel] is talking to the ambassador of China kasi nag-close ang China since August last year for export. And China has 285 days of inventory ng kanilang fertilizer. So we forwarded a request sa kanila na mabigyan tayo, na ma-open tayo sa fertilizer from China,” Navarro added.Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) Executive Director Glenn Estrada said nitrogen-based fertilizers are affected by the closing of the Strait of Hormuz.The Philippines sources 15 percent of nitrogen-based fertilizers from Qatar, and 4 percent from Saudi Arabia, Estrada said.The Agriculture department also said it plans to shy away from oil-based fertilizers, looking into smart farming technology and meeting with organic fertilizer suppliers.“In Mindoro, for example, we have a test of 1,000 hectares doon na ginagamitan na namin ng regenerative at tsaka rejuvenation or rejuvenative farming– smart farming na technology po para we will shy away with the oil-based fertilizer po. And this is the model that we wanted to adopt in any agricultural area of the country,” Navarro said.<div>FERTILIZER PRICE INCREASE</div>ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio lamented a supposed increase in fertilizer prices, having been told they jumped from P1,500 to P1,900.According to Navarro, they are studying the possibility of issuing an administrative order in relation to price stabilization.“We would like to see a framework that temporarily, we can have a price stabilization measure sana,” Navarro said.“Your price stabilization recommendation– can an administrative order– puwede ba siya within DA?” House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairperson Wilfrido Enverga asked.“Tinitingnan namin within DA, Sir. Because we’re going to request for an emergency, Sir. These are the broad strokes na gusto naming gawin for this time around… Sa ngayon, kasi closed ‘yung Iran, for example. Kailangan natin mag-diversify ng source natin nitong international fertilizer, lalo na po sa ating tinatawag na urea po or nitrogen,” Navarro replied.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has affected not just oil supplies but fertilizer supplies as well.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has affected not just oil supplies but fertilizer supplies as well.