Second of two parts
THE ongoing conflict at the Middle East exposed one major flaw in our food production system: Dependence on imported fertilizers.
While only 7 percent of the country’s fertilizer requirements are sourced from the Middle East, restriction of maritime traffic at the Strait Hormuz affects 33 percent of global fertilizer supply. That can result to the price escalation of the commodity, which may force richer nations cornering whatever supply is available from today and the next months.
So, what if nations with lots of cash reserves such as China start stocking up inorganic fertilizers? This will surely worsen the supply crunch and drive prices higher.
The lesson here is dependence on imported fertilizer undermines national food security and keeps production costs high. So, it is time to rethink and change this model.
We can start by investing in the development of locally produced fertilizers — organic, bio-based, and mineral-based alternatives that are suited to our soil conditions.
We can achieve that by harnessing local resources, agricultural wastes, and scientific innovation, providing more sustainable and affordable options for farmers. This is not just economic strategy — it is a matter of national resilience.
I am sure that there are scientists, academicians, farmers and entrepreneurs who have developed natural fertilizers. And they need the support of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to scale up production and utilization of their natural fertilizers.
Provision of equipment to farmers cooperatives and associations, or local government units (LGUs) through grants or low-interest loans can help upscale natural fertilizer production, helping the country reduce dependence on inorganic fertilizers.
I am not saying that our farmers abandon the use of inorganic fertilizers. Rather, we should gradually shift to a sustainable system of producing food based on more natural methods.
Also, we should start seeking other sources for inorganic or other types of fertilizers such as North Africa, and North America. Canada is currently the global leader in potash production, while Morocco is not far behind.
Let us also establish local or regional fertilizer reserves to manage supply bottlenecks during critical planting seasons. This need is magnified by the ongoing Middle East conflict and LGUs can take the lead on this.
I also recommend to the Department of Agriculture (DA) the upscaling of the Balanced Fertilizer program that was started when the department was under my leadership.
Balanced fertilization can reduce inorganic fertilizer use by up to 50 percent and improve soil health over the long term. Balanced fertilization can be the path for farms to gradually shift to a more sustainable food production system. The raw materials to produce natural fertilizer are also abundant, such as rice straws.
Crop diversification and crop rotation should also be promoted among farmers, as this can improve soil health and lessen the need for inorganic inputs.
What I have witnessed first hand is farmers resort to increasing fertilizer use to attain optimum yields, which is not only costly but can harm soil health.
Often, this means doubling or even tripling the recommended rate, in the belief that more nutrients will force the crops to grow better. But science tells us otherwise. Excess fertilizer does not guarantee higher yields. In fact, it often leads to nutrient imbalance, soil degradation, and wasted investment.
Addressing structural challenges
Dependence and overuse of inorganic fertilizer also reveal structural challenges in our food production system, which forces farmers to resort to unsustainable practices. I am referring here to the high cost of mechanization, such as tractor rental, and the lack of reliable irrigation systems, among many others.
Without adequate irrigation, farmers depend on unpredictable rainfall, leading to inconsistent yields and increased risk. We must also establish more solar-powered irrigation systems and water impounding ponds in elevated areas that use gravity to irrigate farms at the plains. Both measures reduce the need for small irrigation engines using fossil fuel.
Another technique that can be upscaled is the alternate wet and drying for rice farms, which can decrease water usage by up to 30 percent.
Farmers should also have access to affordable farm machine leasing services to prevent land preparation costs from rising.
The challenges I just mentioned are not isolated. In fact, these are interconnected — and demand a comprehensive response. The path forward is very clear: Equip farmers with knowledge grounded in science.
So, the truth is this: the real crisis in agriculture is not just the high price of inputs, but the misuse of those inputs driven by lack of access to the right knowledge, tools, and support systems.
And I can say that stabilizing or lowering fertilizer prices, and ensuring supply alone will not solve the problem. We must address the root causes of inefficiency, dependency, and misinformed practices. Because when farmers are empowered with the right knowledge, the right tools, and the right support, they do not just reduce costs — they transform agriculture into a system that is productive, sustainable, and resilient. And that is the future our farmers deserve.
But knowledge alone is not enough. We must invest in people and systems, and LGUs play a crucial role in transforming agriculture at the grassroots level.
Hence, there is an urgent need to strengthen our agricultural extension system through continuous farmer education, and the training of trainers programs. Agricultural extension workers must also be empowered to deliver localized, science-based solutions that respond to the actual conditions in the field — not generic recommendations.
Also, the DA must partner with state college and universities (SCUs) to help LGUs empower and train farmers.
We must move beyond surface-level solutions, and remodel our food production system that is resilient or resistance to external shocks like what we are witnessing now with the Middle East conflict.
In the interim or short term, assisting farmers to cope with the current crisis through direct cash transfer is among the best measures.
And I laud the DA for its move to start providing cash assistance to farmers and fishers starting April 6, and the allocation of P10 billion for that initiative. Part of the assistance will be for fuel subsidy, necessary for farmers to keep operating their machines and tractors, and fishers to power their boats.
Looking beyond the current crisis, I urge Generation RE to take the lead in transforming the country’s food production system into a sustainable model that is also capable of withstanding external shocks.
And now is the time to start rebuilding, restoring, regenerating, reforming, and reconnecting agriculture with nature and humanity.
