Bio-Fertilizers and Pesticides
Los Baños, Laguna – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) inaugurated a facility that will enhance performance of seedlings planted in degraded areas like mining sites, eroded and denuded lands and dry areas in the Philippines. The event was held on April 28, 2014 at the Science and Technology Park, UPLB, College, Laguna.
The facility is the first mycorrhizal* production establishment of the DENR. It produces Hi-Q Vam 1, a biofertilizer that can help ensure the quality of seedlings planted for the National Greening Program (NGP) of the government.
“For 2014, the facility is expected to produce 411 tons of Hi-Q Vam 1 to meet the amount of biofertilizers needed to produce high quality seedlings for NGP” said Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, ERDB Director.
The inventor of Hi-Q Vam 1, Dr. Evangeline T. Castillo, is glad to formally release the product for public use. “Hi Q Vam 1 is a product of 13 years of research and development using indigenous mycorrhiza from natural forests and old plantations in the Philippines” she said. She also explained that “mycorrhiza is a symbiotic versatile fungus associated with plant roots capable of boosting the growth performance of plants”.
Usec. Demetrio L. Ignacio, Undersecretary for Field Operations of the DENR represented Sec. Ramon J.P. Paje in the ribbon cutting ceremony during the inauguration. He lauded ERDB for coming up with Hi Q Vam 1, the first patented technology developed by DENR.
Usec, Ignacio said that the technology can benefit not only DENR and government agencies involved in reforestation but also everyone who is engaged in seedling production and/or planting for livelihood.
Hi-Q Vam 1 is sold for P80/kilo or P2400/sack which can inoculate around 12,000 seedlings. It can be widely used to improve the growth of various crops (e.g., corn, tomato, banana), fruit trees (e.g., rambutan, guyabano, cacao), and forest species (e.g., narra, dao, kamagong).
Recognizing its utility, Dir. Lapitan encouraged everyone to use the product for the good of the environment and to ensure that forestation efforts of the government would succeed. Adreana Santos-Remo, TDD
Article Source: DENR inaugurates facility to produce biofertilizers – Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau – DENR