Los Angeles, Butuan City – A total of 57 individuals, comprised of 21 Local Farmer Technicians and 30 farmers from Agusan del Norte, attended the first of the four batches of technical briefings on the Balanced Fertilization Strategy conducted by the ATI-RTC 13 on August 7, 2023.

The activity aims to promote the Abonong Swak campaign, which supports the DA’s Balance Fertilization Strategy and highlights the importance of combining organic and inorganic fertilizers to help farmers increase their yield while reducing production costs.

Ms. Cristal Peñero, Technical Staff of ATI, presented the rationale, and the schedule of activities. Meanwhile, Mr. Enosencio B. Minguez, Senior Agriculturist/DA-Caraga, discussed the rice industry situationer in Caraga, and the overview of Abonong Swak, emphasizing its legal basis, advantages, and the BFS recommendations and protocol.

Minguez also mentioned that the BFS pushes for the use of combined organic and inorganic inputs and other forms of strategy to attain the maximum potential of farmlands while promoting balanced fertilization in maintaining soil fertility. He also enumerated the decision tools and other ICT-based platforms for more precise recommendations.

In closing, OIC Assistant Center Director Violeta T. Laguna encouraged farmers to adopt the fertilizing-saving technology and share it among other farmers.