WHY IS SMALL SCALE COMPOSTING THE CRITICAL KEY TO SUCCESSFUL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE?

WHY IS SMALL SCALE COMPOSTING THE CRITICAL KEY TO SUCCESSFUL ORGANIC AGRICULTURE?

It seems that nowadays, common sense is not so common anymore. That is rather ironic because in this age of information and artificial intelligence, it should be much easier to determine what is practical, affordable, and sustainable.

Take fertilizers, for example. If there is an alternative that is not only cheaper but practically free, why are we still spending billions of pesos on expensive chemical fertilizers?

There is no question that chemical fertilizers have contributed to increasing agricultural productivity over the years. However, they have also made our farmers dependent on imported raw materials and volatile oil prices. Since most chemical fertilizers are petroleum-based, every increase in global oil prices eventually translates into higher production costs for our farmers. Meanwhile, organic fertilizers can be produced locally from materials that are normally discarded as waste.

The good news is that the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), is already providing a practical solution. Under the National Organic Agriculture Program, qualified farmer cooperatives, local government units, civil society organizations, indigenous peoples' organizations, state universities and colleges, and farm schools may apply for the establishment of a Small-Scale Composting Facility (SSCF). The technology package includes a biomass shredder, African Night Crawlers (ANCs), and vermi-tea brewers, together with technical training.

The composting machine processes market waste, farm residues, and kitchen waste into materials that can be fed to African Night Crawlers. The worms then produce vermicast, one of the best organic fertilizers available. Instead of throwing away biodegradable waste, we convert it into wealth.

The science behind composting is actually very simple. Organic farming does not merely feed the plant. It feeds the soil. Healthy compost introduces beneficial microorganisms that improve soil fertility, increase water retention, suppress harmful pathogens, recycle nutrients, and reduce dependence on commercial farm inputs. It also makes farms more resilient during both droughts and heavy rains.

Equally noteworthy is the role of the private sector. The composting machines distributed by DA-BSWM are manufactured locally by RU Foundry and Machinery, Inc. (RUFMI) in Bacolod City under the leadership of Mr. Ramon Uy, Sr. Aside from manufacturing the equipment, the company also provides maintenance and technical support, proving once again that government programs become more successful when they are supported by responsible private enterprises.

There is another major benefit that local government officials should not ignore. Composting significantly reduces the volume of biodegradable waste that must be transported to sanitary landfills. This translates into lower hauling costs while simultaneously producing valuable organic fertilizer. In other words, one investment solves both a solid waste management problem and an agricultural productivity problem.

My suggestion is simple. Every municipality should establish at least one Small-Scale Composting Facility. Every province should have several. State universities and colleges should become training centers for organic agriculture, while LGUs should organize farmer cooperatives to operate these facilities.

If we are truly serious about achieving food security, food sovereignty, and environmental sustainability, we must stop treating composting as a backyard activity. It should become a national movement.

Sometimes, the biggest solutions are not the most expensive. They are simply the ones that make the most common sense.

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres  iseneres@yahoo.com  senseneres.blogspot.com  09088877282/08-11-2027

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