SUMMARY
The so called, “modern farming” green revolution allowed the Philippines to achieve surplus rice production sometime in the late 1970’s. Consequently, the Philippines was able to export 200,000 tonnes of rice in 1982. However, said year of surplus was short lived; it was not sustainable. It even resulted to soil impoverishment and exhausted reserve fertility for the farm soil.
Decades of NPK fertilization under the green revolution program practically sapped the Philippine farm lands of their organic matter content.
Typical soil test in rice, sugar and coconut farm lands showed organic matter content levels as follows; 1.17%, 1.04%, 0.62%, 0.28%, 0.08%, and in some cases nothing at all. These levels are way below the 4% level for fertile soil.
In growing a good crop, there is a need to supply the plant with 16 essential nutrients. The plant has to be provided with all the essential plant nutrients. Unfortunately, the present condition of Philippine farm soil with low organic matter content can no longer supply all the essential nutrients despite heavy NPK fertilization. Micro-nutrient fertilization becomes a necessity and organic recycling is mandatory.
Applying NPK fertilizers alone to an infertile farm soil results to nutrient starved crops and that feeding people with nutrient starved crops will deprive said people of many essential nutrients. This results to malnutrition and a malnourished populace.
*Excerpt from an article published in ASIAN BUSINESS magazine, NEWSFOCUS section, 1983
The so called, “modern farming” green revolution allowed the Philippines to achieve surplus rice production sometime in the late 1970’s. Consequently, the Philippines was able to export 200,000 tonnes of rice in 1982. However, said year of surplus was short lived; it was not sustainable. It even resulted to soil impoverishment and exhausted reserve fertility for the farm soil.
Decades of NPK fertilization under the green revolution program practically sapped the Philippine farm lands of their organic matter content.
Typical soil test in rice, sugar and coconut farm lands showed organic matter content levels as follows; 1.17%, 1.04%, 0.62%, 0.28%, 0.08%, and in some cases nothing at all. These levels are way below the 4% level for fertile soil.
In growing a good crop, there is a need to supply the plant with 16 essential nutrients. The plant has to be provided with all the essential plant nutrients. Unfortunately, the present condition of Philippine farm soil with low organic matter content can no longer supply all the essential nutrients despite heavy NPK fertilization. Micro-nutrient fertilization becomes a necessity and organic recycling is mandatory.
Applying NPK fertilizers alone to an infertile farm soil results to nutrient starved crops and that feeding people with nutrient starved crops will deprive said people of many essential nutrients. This results to malnutrition and a malnourished populace.
*Excerpt from an article published in ASIAN BUSINESS magazine, NEWSFOCUS section, 1983