Western Visayas establishes 41 Tipid-Abono sites
Bacolod City -- The Department of Agriculture in Region 6 said that 41 Tipid Abono sites have been established in Western Visayas to enhance rice productivity and generate additional jobs in the region.
Larry Nacionales, OIC, Regional Executive Director said the Tipid-Abono Fertilization Program (TAFP) is a cost reduction strategy through judicious and optimum use of fertilizer that helps farmer, especially hybrid and certified rice producers, develop right mixtures and application of fertilizers.
The farmers will be taught on how to use Leaf Color Chart to determine proper timing and amount of nitrogen application in their respective farms.
The TAFP is being implemented in 15 sites in Iloilo; 8 in Capiz; 6 in Negros Occidental; 5 each in Aklan and Antique and 2 in Guimaras.
The recommended fertilizer inputs were based on fertilizer groupings such as for Negros Occidental (per hectares) - five bags organic fertilizer, one bag 16-20-0' one bag 18-46-0 and 10 kilograms zinc sulfate.
The program supports the small-scale organic fertilizer industry in the region and creates job opportunities for about 6,000 persons per cropping season.
A TAFP site is composed of five hectares cluster farms, a representative of the fertilizer groupings grown to irrigated rice, a homogeneous area, accessible and easily visible to other farmers of adjoining barangays and researchers, have more or less the same cropping system and management history.
It is located in areas undisturbed by siltation, excavation, and fillings and approximately 50 meters away from the shades, possible overflow from irrigation and other disturbances.
(PIA/cad)