O rganic fertilizers improve crop performance because
they improve the physical, chemical, and biological
properties of the soil. And if farmers use these, they can
realize greater incomes as a result of large savings on
expensive chemical fertilizers. Estimates in rice, for
instance, show that by substituting urea and complete
fertilizers with organic fertilizer, farmers save more than
P4,000 per hectare in one cropping season.
Organic fertilizer producers also cash in on agricultural
wastes. Net incomes from the production and sale of liquid
and solid organic fertilizer can range from P100,000 to as
high as P450,000 within seven months of operation.
Moreover, the organic fertilizer industry holds special
socioeconomic importance as it can generate considerable
employment. A large-scale operation, for instance, can
employ as many as 40 people.
In effect, agricultural wastes can turn into gold.
Moreover, organic fertilizer has a strong global market
potential because of the growing global concern for safe,
quality food, and sustainable agriculture. And with the
population’s increasing appetite for organically grown
products, the industry’s prospects are generally positive.
However, the organic fertilizer industry is still in its
infancy. Major constraints such as low quality, laborious
preparation and application of compost, inadequate supply
of inoculants, restriction on the use of microorganisms,
and lack of toxicity tests prevent the industry from taking
full advantage of the domestic and global opportunities.
And despite the rising popularity of organic fertilizers, the
agricultural communities are still inadequately informed of
its proper application and use.
To address these concerns, science and technology (S&T)
interventions amounting to P30 million have been planned
for the next three years. Such interventions will develop
high-quality and environment-friendly organic or
biofertilizers; mechanize the composting process; put up
technology demonstration farms; establish on-farm
research; implement an information and technology
dissemination campaign; and enhance the information
networking services on organic fertilizer.
The covered areas where these initiatives will be initially
implemented are Regions 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and the
Cordillera Administrative Region.
With these interventions, the organic fertilizer industry is
envisioned to be a robust and competitive enterprise that
can supply the needed 41 million bags of compost per
year for crop production in irrigated and rainfed areas.
Moreover, these will catapult the country as the next
major supplier of organic fertilizers in the global market.
 Organic fertilizer: from waste to gold
Major Gaps • Low quality of organic fertilizer
• Laborious preparation and application
• Inadequate supply of inoculants
• Restrictions on the use of microorganism
• Lack of toxicity tests
• Inadequately informed farmers on the proper application and use of organic
fertilizer

S&T Interventions • R&D intervention to improve product quality

• R&D utilization
• R&D capability and governance
• Policy formulation and advocacy

Components of the
S&T Interventions • Maximize the efficiency of organic materials for organic fertilizer production
• Pilot and package a mechanized system of composting agricultural wastes
• Conduct ex-ante socioeconomic evaluation of R&D projects on organic
fertilizers
• Analyze marketing efficiency and develop innovative marketing strategies
for smallholder organic fertilizer producers
• Conduct technology assessment of organic fertilizer technologies
• Accelerate production and utilization of organic fertilizers
• Document and produce information, education, and communication materials
• Enhance technology transfer to promote organic fertilizers
• Promote the Commodity Information Network for Organic Farming
(PhilOrganic)
• Conduct training programs for production and use of organic fertilizers
• Provide local government units with technical assistance
• Conduct analysis and advocacy of policy options to enhance the development
of the smallholder organic fertilizer industry

Regional Locations • Cordillera Administrative Region and Regions 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12

Impacts • Increased crop yield even without minimum chemical fertilizer application
• Improved chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil, contributing
to soil conservation
• Increased farm incomes as a result of large savings on expensive chemical
fertilizers
• Reduced agricultural wastes and enhanced rate of resource recovery

Linkages/Collaborators • Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology,

Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries
Product Standards, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Fertilizer and
Pesticide Authority, Organic Fertilizer Manufacturers Association, Organic
Producers and Trade Association, Organic Certification Center of the
Philippines, other non-government organizations, State Colleges and
Universities, local government units, organic farms, and organic
fertilizer producers

Budget • P30 million for three years

Dr. Patricio S. Faylon

Executive Director
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and
Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)

Paseo de Valmayor, Los Baños, Laguna, 4030, Philippines

Tel. Nos.: (63-49) 536-0014 to 20; 536-5896 to 5899
Fax Nos.: (63-49) 536-0016; 536-7922
E-mail: pcarrd@pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
Website: http://www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph