Scraps Turned Into Crops

“The real solution in farming is not always found in expensive inputs, but in what farmers already have.”

Despite the continuous rise of fertilizer prices linked to global oil markets, some farmers are finding ways to adapt and survive along the way. In Nueva Ecija, a rice farmer is proving that high yield does not always require high cost. But how did he do it? What makes his method different from the others? And can this method be applied to other farming communities?

Farmer Daniel Bolos, head of the Crisol Bagong Pag-asa Irrigators Association, introduced a farming approach that reduces dependence on costly urea-based fertilizers. Instead of relying on synthetic inputs, he uses a homemade organic solution made from finished amino acid, fermented fish waste, and molasses. These are materials that are often considered as wastes.

The method was presented during a harvest event led by the Department of Agriculture (DA). Its results were clearly seen by the DA and the locals. On a 10-hectare demonstration farm, the yield reached up to 10 metric tons per hectare, which nearly doubled the usual production. At the same time, fertilizer costs were reduced by at least 25%.

Aside from lowering the expenses, the method is said to also lessen the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides. By improving soil health and nutrient absorption, crops become more resilient, allowing the farmers to produce more while spending less.

With production costs lowered to around 10 pesos per kilo, farmers can gain better income despite rising fuel and input prices. Because of this, more communities are beginning to willingly adopt the method, seeing consistent results across seasons.

The innovation of Bolos may seem simple, but its impact is significant in farming. This simply shows that solutions to major agricultural problems do not always come from outside sources, they can start from the farmers themselves.

Now, the call is clear.

Support what already works. Strengthen farmer-led innovations. Also, farmers must be open to learning and adapting practices that work. Government agencies, local institutions, and agricultural stakeholders must move beyond and begin actively promoting these kinds of innovations.

Because if one field in Nueva Ecija can double its yield while cutting costs, imagine what thousands more could achieve.

The solution is already here. The question is—will we act on it?