THE Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) through DA-Negros Island Region (NIR) turned over on Wednesday composting facilities for biodegradable wastes worth almost P1.5 million to three local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental.
The cities of Talisay, Silay and Victorias each received one unit of shredder, one unit of rotary composter, and one unit of compost tea brewer.
Three LGUs in Negros Oriental also received the same composting facilities, which form part of the total 172 units being distributed around the country.
Leo Retamar, soil and water area coordinator for Western Visayas and NIR, who was present during the turn-over ceremony at the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel, said the project is under the agency’s organic agriculture program for 2016.
Retamar said the facilities, to be positioned in public markets, will be used to convert biodegradable wastes to organic fertilizer.
It has the capacity to produce 40 kilograms of organic fertilizer a week, he added.
“The project also has a training component for the persons who will take charge of the facility,” Retamar said, adding that as counterpart, recipient-cities should have ideal areas with electric and water facilities.
Under the program, identified LGUs must comply with the requirements, including the letter of intent with resolution authorizing their chief executives to implement the program.
Also, these LGUs should have already been implementing various organic agriculture programs in their respective localities.
Once the facility is established, there will be a regular performance monitoring and occasional sampling to determine the quality of fertilizer produced and make adjustments if necessary, Retamar said.
DA-NIR Regional Director Joyce Wendam, who was also present at the turn-over rites, said the project is positioned to address the garbage disposal problems especially in public markets.
She added that the facility could also be a means of income-generating for the LGUs as well as help farmers address their organic fertilizer needs.
“In the promotion of organic agriculture, lack of organic fertilizer has been a challenge for the farmers thus, they cannot totally devote their lands to this system of farming,” Wendam said.
The distribution of organic fertilizer produced through the facility will depend on the scheme designed by the recipient-cities, which are yet to sign an agreement with BSWM.
“We are urging the beneficiaries to take care of the project, because if the impact will be good it will also be replicated in other public markets in the province,” Wendam added.
