TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) – The Mallong Hillside Farmers Association (FA) in Barangay Cudal, Tabuk City was selected as the cooperator for the Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy (ABFS) project aimed to enhance corn production.
The ABFS is a science-based farming method focusing on the use of cost-efficient and proper combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers to sustain the increases in crop productivity.
Implemented by the Department of Argiculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) with local stakeholders, the project aims to showcase ABFS technology to improve soil fertility and soil health for sustainable corn productivity.
“Very low po ang production ng corn sa entire Philippines. Kaya po meron ABFS para po ma-uplift or madagdaganang production ng corn,” said Visitacion V. Castillo, alternate regional focal person for the Cordillera of the DA-BSWM’s Soil and Water Team.
“Sa buong CAR, ang sitio Mallong, Cudal ang first po namagco-conduct ng Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy under ng corn,” she said.
Under the project, members of the Mallong Hillside FA will receive hybrid corn seeds, 1,000 bags of organic fertilizers, and 1,475 bags of inorganic fertilizers including 900 bags of ammonium phosphate, 275 bags of urea, and 300 bags of muriate of potash. They also receivecapacitation training, among other benefits.
The ABFS Project covers 100 hectares of corn farms under the Mallong Hillside FA which will serve as technology-demonstration sites to showcase the corn farming technology.
Mallong Hillside FA president Herbert Olosan gave his commitment that their group will adhere to the protocols of the project. He also expressed optimism that the corn technology will help improve their farming practice, increase their yield, and boost their income.
“We expect nga adu pay ti training nga maited. We expect nga i-uplift na ti biyag tayo ta libre met ti abono,” Olosan said.
Kalinga is the top producer of corn in the Cordillera, contributing 55,549 metric tons or 34.1% of the region’s entire production in 2024, according to the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority-Kalinga. (JDP/IOS-PIA CAR, Kalinga).
