DA pilots hybrid fertilization program for farmers

The Department of Agriculture is piloting a new protocol for hybrid fertilizers to shield rice farmers from fluctuating prices, officials said Wednesday.

Hybrid Fertilizer Protocol Explained

The initiative comes in response to the global energy crisis spurred by the Iran War, which has disrupted oil trade in the Middle East.

“This is about protecting farmers from price volatility while keeping productivity intact,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, emphasizing the need to reassess input strategies as production costs increase.

Because urea production is heavily reliant on natural gas, the Iran War and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven up farm input prices.

Combining targeted chemical inputs with organic supplements can reduce local farmers’ dependence on urea without impacting output, according to Tiu Laurel. “We are optimizing accessible inputs while lowering farmers’ cost exposure.”

Hybrid fertilization is a multi-stage application method that utilizes specific nutrients tailored to the rice crop’s needs throughout its growth cycle.

The protocol involves applying one bag of ammonium sulfate for every 1 hectare of land during seedbed preparation before transplanting.

In the first two weeks, farmers should add two bags of high-nitrogen 21-0-0 fertilizer per hectare to support early vegetative growth.

Between days 18 and 25, balanced formulations, including liquid 16-16-8 and 14-14-14 fertilizers, are used to strengthen root development and enhance nutrient uptake.

Later, potassium-rich inputs like 17-0-17 or 0-0-60 fertilizers are applied as top dressing to improve grain filling and enhance plant resilience.

A key component of the protocol is the use of homemade fish amino acid, applied up to 12 times throughout the planting cycle, from transplanting to before harvesting. This serves as an alternative nitrogen source, improving soil health and nutrient absorption.

“This is just one of several protocols we are testing nationwide as part of a broader push for regenerative farming aimed at eventually minimizing, if not eliminating, the use of inorganic fertilizers,” Tiu Laurel said. “The ongoing energy crisis presents an opportunity to accelerate these efforts.”