Solid Waste Management for Philippine Municipalities

Composting the biodegradable components of municipal

wastes is the most practical way of alleviating the garbage
problem of urban centers in the Philippines. However, because
of the great diversity of types and volume of municipal wastes
there is no standard procedure for wastes processing (some of
the basic steps, machineries, and structures needed for
composting garbage are presented in “The Philippines
Recommends for Agricultural Waste Processing and
Management, PCARRD-PARRFI-BAR, 2004).
Nevertheless, the following are the important
considerations in composting and use of municipal solid
wastes (MSW) as organic fertilizer and soil conditioner:

 The MSW does not contain nonbiodegradable

materials during composting to reduce the
contamination with heavy metals and other pollutants;
 Most MSW, particularly those coming from markets and
households are too wet and bulky. Absorbent materials
(e.g., sawdust, coir dust, chopped straw, rice hull)
should be added during composting;
 Sludge contains high amounts of pathogens and as a
component in composting, it must undergo aerobic
decomposition to assure the elimination of the harmful
organisms. Also, the compost, due to high probability of
containing heavy metals must be used only for non-food
plants (e.g., ornamentals);

 Foul odor and fly infestation are among the biggest

problems in composting MSW, especially if part of the
process is under anaerobic conditions. This may be
controlled to a great extent by:

- Frequent turning to ensure aerobic decomposition or

installing suction or blower system;
- Covering the decomposing pile with a layer of soil,
ash, or matured compost; and,
- Alternating the layers of fine materials with coarse
materials to make the pile more porous.

Figures 16–18 show the Los Baños Ecological Waste

Processing Center under the supervision and management of
the town's local government office.
Among the activities in the Center is the production of
organic fertilizer through composting biodegradable wastes.
The municipality's composting process generally involves
shredding the wastes using the shredder and composting the
shredded materials in static concrete pens. Coir dusts are
applied to reduce the odor during the process of
decomposition. Bamboos are inserted into the pile for better
aeration. It takes 45 days to decompose the materials under
this method.

Fig. 16. Machine used in the Los Baños Ecological Waste

Processing Center.

Fig. 17. Composting municipal wastes in Los Baños, Laguna.

 Fig. 18. Organic fertilizer from municipal wastes in Los Baños, Laguna.

Microbial Fertilizers
Microbial fertilizers are preparations of live cells of
microorganisms strains. These microbes could fix nitrogen,
solubilize phosphate, or degrade cellulose. Microbial fertilizers
are also called microbial inoculants or biofertilizers. Microbial
fertilizer is also used as a term to include all organic resources
or manures for plant growth, which are made available for
plant absorption through microbe-plant interaction.
Microbial fertilizers are applied to seed, soil, or composting
materials. The aim in using microbial fertilizers is to increase
the number of microorganisms and accelerate certain
microbial processes.
The desired microbial processes may improve nutrient
availability by promoting nutrient forms that can easily be
assimilated by plants. Such microbial processes may include
nitrogen conversion from the air into forms usable by plants;
the dissolution of phosphates by acid-secreting bacteria; or the
breakdown of organic matter by bacteria, fungi, and
actinomycetes.
As noted earlier, composting activators which are
preparations of cultures of bacteria and or fungi, are actually
microbial fertilizers. These are mixed with compost to improve
the effectiveness of the prepared organic product. This is by
enhancing the number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, increasing
 the population of phosphate-solubilizing fungi, or enhancing
the overall bio-control effects of the organic fertilizer.

The Need for Microbial Fertilizers

An ideal soil has the following main characteristics: 1)

optimum physical properties; 2) with chemical constituents
conducive for plant growth; and 3) possesses balanced
microbiological processes.
The microbiological processes are part of the nitrogen,
phosphorus, and carbon cycling. Nitrogen, for example,
passes through various kinds of interconversions in soil due to
the microorganisms involved in the nitrogen cycle.
Wild ecosystems like forests and grasslands have
sustained their productivity through centuries of natural
interconversion of essential elements such as mediated by
microorganisms.

The present intensive crop cultivation requires the use of

chemical fertilizers to supply essential nutrients in volume and
at the required time. But fertilizers are in short supply and are
expensive in developing countries.
Exploring the possibility of supplementing chemical
fertilizers with organic ones, and with microbial fertilizers, is
thus needed.

The Rhizobial Inoculant as Microbial Fertilizer

The classic example of a microbial fertilizer or inoculant is

the legume inoculant or the Rhizobium-type inoculant. This
inoculant was developed and commercialized based on the
knowledge on the bacteria- plant relationship in the legume
system, which makes nitrogen available for plant use.
The interactive beneficial relationship (or symbiosis)
between the root-nodule bacteria of the genus Rhizobium and
legumes results in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen in the
legume root nodules. This symbiotic relationship has special
significance to legume production. Seed inoculation with
effective Rhizobium strains can meet the nitrogen
requirements of the legume to achieve increased yields.
Such
a phenomenon is of worldwide interest because it could lead
to lesser dependence on expensive petroleum-based nitrogen
fertilizers for legumes. Some common examples of legume crops
 include soybean, mungbean, peanut, string beans, pigeon pea,
and lima bean. These have special relevance particularly for
global regions where food consumption exceeds production or
where nitrogen fertilizers have to be imported. Food, forage,
and feed legumes are increasingly becoming attractive
because of their self-sufficiency for nitrogen supply, high
protein, and calorific values. In tropical countries like the
Philippines, population increase and food production are out of
balance. The purchasing power for imported chemical
fertilizers is least adequate. Therefore, in these areas, the
greater use of legumes can have significant beneficial impact.
About 175 M t of global nitrogen is fixed per year. Legumes
fix about 40% of that amount. Higher levels of fixation are
contributed by marine fixation.
Soybean can fix 234 kg N/ha. Naturally occurring
populations of Rhizobia are considered in relation to their
inherent values as “natural inocula” for legumes and to their
effects on the introduction of new strains.
Worldwide production of legume inoculants is static or in
decline. This is a paradoxical situation in a world where
improved strategies for augmenting biological N2 fixation have
the potential to contribute enormous returns in the quality and
quantity of food for human and domestic animals.
Greater use of symbiotic nitrogen fixation can be achieved
through the use of the legume-Rhizobium technology that
makes use of rhizobial inoculants as microbial fertilizers.

Production of Rhizobium Microbial Fertilizer

Production of legume inoculants or rhizobial inoculants for

marketing started in the US and the UK as early as 1895. In
1993, many countries already produce the inoculants. Most
are prepared in powdered organic carriers such as peat. Peat
remains the favored base particularly when rendered sterile by
gamma-ray irradiation. Peat is a heavy organic material made
of partly rotted moss and other plants that is mined from soil
beds.
The search for alternative carrier materials continues
particularly in regions without natural deposits of peat.
Resuspension of lyophilized (frozen in vacuum) cultures of
rhizobia in vegetable oil was reported good or gave better cell
survival than in peat cultures and performed well in field trials.
Soil as adhesives for seed inoculation was also reported to
give good results.
Usually, microbial fertilizers or inoculants are prepared by
adding fermenter-grown broth (nutrient medium in tank where
the desired microorganism is grown) containing a large
population of Rhizobia to powdered carrier followed by a
period of incubation. Another method of production uses
direct fermentation on nutrient- supplemented vermiculite
for bacterial inoculants production (Fig. 19).
Figure 20 shows the actual production of inoculated compost.
An Australian company has recently been experimenting
with the production of broth inoculant. A sterile fermentation
liquor was used as a nutrient broth for fermenter cultivation of
rhizobia to a population greater than 1 B cells per mL.

Fig. 19. An example of a schematic process of Rhizobium

inocula production (Modified from Subba Rao, 1988).
 Fig. 20. Production of inoculated compost.

Application of Legume Microbial Fertilizer

The Rhizobia or bacteria producing nodulation are as

widely distributed as the legumes themselves. Nevertheless,
there are many soils devoid of strains suitable for introduced
legumes and some soils where Rhizobia are few or absent.
Four conditions which would warrant the use of legume
microbial fertilizers are as follows:

 The absence of the same or a symbiotically related

legume in the immediate past history of the land;
 Poor nodulation when the same crop was previously
grown on the land ;
 When the legume follows a non-leguminous crop in a
rotation; and,
 Inland reclamation undertakings.

When sufficient effective Rhizobia are already present in

the soil, then inoculation is not required. Many farmers
inoculate as a form of insurance, however.
Farmers must obtain and properly use viable effective
rhizobial microbial fertilizer on their legume seeds or soil
before planting. This is necessary in order to realize the
agricultural benefits possible from the use of selected, high
nitrogen-fixing strains of nodule bacteria or Rhizobia. The
technology in growing these bacteria, preparing inoculants
with suitable carrier materials, and distributing viable
inoculants to farmers, is essential.
The most common means of introducing Rhizobia to the
soil is as seed-applied inoculum. In its simplest (and least
satisfactory) form, peat inoculant is mixed with water to form a
 slurry and mixed with the seeds. Better results are obtained
when the inoculant is coated on the seed with an adhesive
such as gum arabic or methyl cellulose. This method
increases survival on the seed coat until before the radicle
emerges. When the seed is sown in stress conditions (soil
acidity, non-dependable rainfall, etc.), an additional coating
of calcium carbonate, rock phosphate, or other pelleting
material can enhance the success of
inoculation.
Two other popularly used inoculation techniques are: band
application of liquid inocula into the soil beneath the seeds and
placement of granular inoculum near the seed. These
methods are preferred if local conditions dictate that seed is
sown treated with fungicide or pesticide, or if the species
pushes its cotyledons and seed coat above the soil surface.
A prime aim of legume inoculation is to maximize survival
of inoculant during the period between its introduction to the
soil and the development of a legume rhizosphere which it can
colonize. Field trials have shown the significance of high rates
of inoculation in achieving this objective and optimizing
subsequent nodulation and biological nitrogen fixation.
Application of inoculant or microbial fertilizer to the seed
surface prior to sowing is the traditional, most commonly used
and easiest means of inoculation. It must be noted, however,
that the viability of the Rhizobia is subject to the hazards of
drying, fertilizer contact, seed coat toxicity, incompatible
pesticidal and mineral additives, and inimical soil factors.
Proposals to extend the life expectancy of Rhizobia on seed
including curing (storing at 20°–27oC for up to 4 weeks)
inoculants before use, and suspending cultures in alginate gel
rather than sucrose before application to seed, have not been
adopted by the industry. There are numerous adhesives
suitable for attaching inoculants to seed. Tenacity is an
important characteristic of adhesives to ensure that inoculant
is not lost from the seed during handling and passage through
sowing machinery.
Figure 21 shows the basal application of microbial
fertilizers in vegetables.
 Fig. 21. Basal application of microbial fertilizers in
vegetables.

The Mycorrhizal Microbial Fertilizer

The Mycorrhiza or fungus root is a structure of root tissue

and a fungus. It is a unique association of a specialized
mycorrhizal fungus with higher plants. The fungus is highly
habitat-limited. It is usually found in the immediate vicinity of or
directly within the roots. In a strict sense, the fungus is not a
soil microorganism, but a resident within the root association. It
is adapted to root tissues which may be related to its complex
nutrient demand. Other mycorrhizal fungi may require mixtures
of vitamins and amino acids, while others have never been
cultivated in artificial media.
Mycorrhizae are divided into ectotrophic and endotrophic
categories. The association is ectotrophic when the fungus
forms a covering around the exterior of the roots, where a
network composed of a mass of hyphae enters into the spaces
between the individual plant cells that lead to the formation of a
subterranean structure. Many trees including some
economically important ones are of this type. Ectotrophic
mycorrhizae include species of fungi rarely found in soil by
dilution plating. Typical genera active on trees are Boletus,
Lactarius, Amanita, and Elaphomyces.
The fungus penetrates the cells of the host in the endotrophic
Mycorrhiza. This association is quite common among the
Ericaceae and Orchidaceae, as well as in fruit trees, citrus, coffee,
and various legumes.
The formation of Mycorrhizae is particularly pronounced in
lands low in phosphorus and nitrogen. High nutrient levels are
correlated with poor mycorrhizal development. When roots
have a large reserve of available carbohydrates, the
production of mycorrhizal structures is most vigorous. This
occurs following intensive photosynthesis. This may be an
indication of the host supplying the fungus with the
carbohydrates necessary for its heterotrophic metabolism. But
the root component may also supply amino acids, B vitamins,
or other growth factors.
How valuable are the Mycorrhizae? For many plants, the
Mycorrhiza exerts a beneficial influence. Most of the time, no
function can be attributed to the association. Sometimes,
detrimental effects may ensue from the mycorrhizae.
Mycorrhizae are important in forestry, as they may be
important or essential in reforestation and in afforestation of
new lands.
The uptake of inorganic nutrients is often quite pronounced
in plants with Mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizal roots frequently
assimilate phosphate more readily than fungus-free roots.
Thus, plants with Mycorrhizae grow well in phosphorus-
deficient lands. The mycorrhizal fungus in many plant species
similarly promotes the uptake of nitrogen, sulfur, zinc, and
other essential elements. Also, the fungus may protect the root
against infection by many different kinds of soil-borne
pathogens.
The many benefits of Mycorrhizae have brought about the
development of inoculants or microbial fertilizers of this
organism. Because of the many beneficial effects, extensive
research has been conducted on inoculation of plant species
of economic importance. There are many proven successful
field inoculation effects of Mycorrhizae both here and abroad.

Algal and Other Microbial Fertilizers

Symbiotic systems that fix nitrogen exist in plants that are

not legumes and thus do not create nodules. The Azolla-
Anabaena complex is one such system which involves the
blue-green algae. The Anabaena blue-green algae reside in
the leaf cavities of the floating fern Azolla. This system is
abundant in certain rice paddies of tropical and semitropical
areas. The symbiosis could fix some 150–300 kg N/ha per
year.

Other photosynthetic bacteria and blue-green algae are

able to fix nitrogen. These organisms are able to fix both
carbon dioxide and nitrogen simultaneously in the presence of
light.
The contribution of blue-green algae is thought to be of
some significance in wetland areas and in rice paddies. The
blue-green algae have been found to fix sufficient nitrogen for
moderate rice yields. Normal levels of blue-green algal fixation
are about 20–30 kg N/ha per year. Such fixation also occurs in
upland areas, but is of much lower level than that of the
wetlands.
The established benefits of blue-green algae have led to
inoculant production making use of these organisms.
In the rhizosphere or root environment of non-legumes and
grasses, bacteria of the genera of Azospirillum and
Azotobacter carry out a more widespread but less intense
nitrogen-fixing activity. These organisms use root exudates as
energy sources of their fixation of nitrogen from the air. These
can fix at the rates of 5–30 kg N/ha per year, with total
quantities of nitrogen fixed to be most likely very high.
Furthermore, many strains of these organisms have been
proven to exhibit plant growth-promoting activities.
Long-term studies of the biology and activities of these
organisms have led to the development of artificial cultures
containing significant cell numbers, which could be delivered
into the soil and crop at the opportune time. The cultures or
inoculants are packaged and used giving proven benefits.

Microbial Fertilizers in the Market

It is important to recognize that organic and microbial

fertilizers are key tools in helping provide answers to the
gargantuan problems of high-poverty incidence and food
shortages in developing countries.
The two financial crises of 1988 and 1997 have brought
down a large proportion of the population below the poverty
threshold. Some 40% of the Filipinos are now said to be poor
and are thus finding it hard to look for sustenance.
This is true for other developing countries. Provisions for
food and income are needed more than ever. Besides, the
fundamental need to reformulate government policies, the
initiatives to find the tools to improve the living standards of
people are urgent.

Sufficient food production demands the renewal of soils

and optimum crop growth for yield enhancement and
continuing productivity. Activities surrounding active food
production inevitably generate more income to augment
domestic needs.
The use of chemical fertilizers alone for crop nutrition has
some disadvantages. One of these is the long-term decline in
soil quality and the financial costs of supporting its use. The
bulk of fertilizer materials need not come from imports alone
as this is a drain on our dollar reserves. Importation of
chemical fertilizers in 1992 amounted to some
$168 M (Table 12). If it were possible, substitution of only 10
% of these imports with locally made organic fertilizers and
microbial fertilizers will definitely make a difference.

Table 12. Import of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in 1992.

Type Volume (t) Value ($) Value (P)

Chemical fertilizer 1,259,900 168,108,17 4,370,812,52

4 4
Chemical pesticide 12,175 82,532,490 1,624,194,00
0
Total 1,110,770 230,577,17 5,995,006,52
4 4
Source: Senate Committee Report 2000.

It is high time that organic fertilizers and microbial

fertilizers, which can be manufactured locally and which make
use of environment- friendly production techniques, be viewed
as inseparable component of active food production and
sustainable agriculture.
Organic fertilizers refer to fermented animal manure and
crop residues subjected to microbial action and supplied with
air for a definite period of time until the materials are degraded
into fractions no longer recognizable as the source materials.
These are concentrated in nutrients and of fine texture. These
may be fortified with some amounts of chemical fertilizers or
inoculated with prepared cultures of beneficial microorganisms.
Microbial fertilizers or biofertilizers, on the other hand, refer
to products containing proven beneficial microorganisms or
parts thereof as active ingredients for crop nutrition and
promotion of crop growth and yield. Both organic fertilizers and
microbial fertilizers may contain live microorganisms as active
ingredient. These products are directly renewable, and offer a
healthy option for minimizing farm input expense.

These also provide a commercially viable measure to

enhance crop- soil productivity.
Table 13 shows some examples of the organic and
microbial fertilizers now in the market.

 Bio-N – a microbial inoculant of nitrogen-fixing bacteria

proven to enhance growth and yield of rice and corn;
 Nitro-Plus – a microbial inoculant of Rhizobium
bacteria proven to be effective for legumes;
 Mykovam and Mycogro – inoculant preparation of
beneficial fungi of mycorrhiza were effective in field
crops and forest tree seedlings; and,
 Biogreen bioorganic fertilizers – processed inoculated
compost enriched with beneficial microbial inoculants
proven effective in enhancing growth and yield in field
crops, ornamentals, and fishponds.

Bio-N is a microbial inoculant for rice. It comes in 200-g

packets of soil-charcoal carrier seeded with nitrogen-fixing
bacteria. Research had shown that when used in the presence
of modest amounts of chemical fertilizer N, Bio-N improves
root development, general vigor, tillering, grain yield, and milling
recovery. In the farmers’ field, Bio-N can complement 50% of
the recommended rate of chemical fertilizer N of 100–120
kg/ha. In fertile soils, inoculated treatments produced a mean
of 6.2 t/ha vs. 4.8 t/ha of uninoculated unfertilized control plots,
and
5.4 t/ha of uninoculated fertilized control plots. In fertile sites,
the yield of inoculated rice in the presence of ½ the
recommended dosage of chemical fertilizer N was comparable
with that of fields supplied with full chemical fertilizers. Another
example of rice yield response to the use of Bio-N is shown in
Table 14 where marked yield increase is noted.
Nitro-Plus is a microbial inoculant for legumes. The use of
Nitro- Plus showed that it can induce response to inoculation
in 89 % of the field tests with an average yield increase of
124%. It can induce response in 50% of the field trials in
mungbean and peanut, producing an average yield increase of
29% in mungbean and 39% in peanut. An example of
response of a target crop (soybean) to application of Nitro-Plus
is shown in Table 15. A significant yield increase over the
untreated plants is obtainable with this product.
Extensive research had also been done with
processed inoculated compost or bioorganic fertilizers (BOF).
One such product

Table 13. Common microbial fertilizer products in the country with

continuing R&D and promoted for use in the farmers’ fields.

Microbial
 Produc Produc
Active
t t
Classification Ingredie Benefits
Name Sourc
nt e
1. Bio-N Microbial Azospirillum Enhances BIOTECH,
U.P.
fertilizer growth in Los Baños
rice & corn
with minimal
chemical
fertilizers
2. Nitro-Plus Microbial Rhizobium Enhances BIOTECH,
U.P.
fertilizer legume Los Baños
growth &
yield
3. Mykovam Microbial Mycorrhizae Enhances P BIOTECH,
U.P.
fertilizer availability Los Baños
in trees
4. Mykogro Microbial Mycorrhizae Enhances P BIOTECH,
U.P.
fertilizer availability Los Baños
in field crops
5. a) Inoculated Azotobacter Enhances BIOTECH,
Biogreen U.P.
organic Trichoderma crop growth Los Baños
fertilizer & yield with
reduced che-
mical fertilizer
b) Cocorich Inoculated Azotobacter Enhances BIOTECH,
U.P.
organic Trichoderma crop growth Los Baños &
fertilizer & yield with Minola,
reduced Corporation
chemical
fertilizer use

Table 14. Example of rice response to Bio-N, dry season 1987,

General Trias, Cavite.

Treatment Yield (t/ha)

cv IR 52 cv IR 64

Uninoculated (+ 24 kg N/ ha) 2.2 b 2.3 b

W/ Bio-N (+ 24 kg N/ha) 4.4 a 4.4 a
Means followed by the same letter in a column are not significantly different
at 5% level of significance.

Table 15. Example of the yield-enhancing effects of Nitro-Plus

on the yield of soybean.
 Parameters Monitored Treatment
With Nitro-Plus Without

Nodule/plant, 6 WAP 15 a 8b
Nitrogen uptake, mg/plant, WAP 186 a 106 b
No. of branches/plant 2.55 a 1.92 b
Marketable yield, kg/ha 1482 a 1411 b
Dry matter yield, g/plant, 6 WAP 6a 4a
No. of pods/plant 34 a 24 a
Wt. 100 seeds, g 21 a 18 a

Means within a row followed by the same letter are not significantly different
at 5 % level of significance.

at BIOTECH-UPLB is Biogreen. These are composts, the

fermentation of which have been semi-controlled such that
most of the C, N and P contents are made highly available;
and beneficial organisms have been added as inoculants for
better effectiveness. Controlled experiments have shown
growth enhancements over unfertilized plants by as much as
30–85 % depending on the soil type. An example of the
bioorganic fertilizer effects in the field is shown in Table 17.
Research and extension activities on this product had helped
stimulate the organic fertilizer business in many areas. So far
this is the one product at BIOTECH that had the benefit of
using entrepreneurship development as the key tool for end-
user expansion and product promotion.
Extensive work has been done on Mycovam relevant for
use in rice and agoho trees. Species of endomycorrhizal fungi
predominantly associated with different crops have been
identified. Locally isolated mycorrhizal fungi were found to be
more effective compared with those isolates obtained from
abroad. Studies on P-response curves in marginal soils proved
that mycorrhizal inoculation can equal or exceed the effects
provided by chemical fertilizer P. Considerable work has
already been done to show the effectiveness of mycorrhizal
inoculation in selected crops. An example of the yield-
enhancing effects of Mykovam mycorrhizal inoculant is shown
in Table 16.
Past researches on these products had dwelt on effectiveness
on test crops, formulation, and production techniques.
Presently, research is continuing on better alternative strains,
new formulations, and mass production technologies. Studies
on molecular aspects and genetic improvement for selected
strains have been started.
Table 16. Example of yield enhancement by Mykovam mycorrhizal
inoculant in eggplant cv. Bingo, wet season 1997, San Mateo,
Dolores, Quezon.

Treatment Yield Yield Increase

(kg per Over Control
plot) (%)
Control 210 -
With Mykovam 1100 424

Table 17. Example of the effects of processed inoculated compost or

bioorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of rice cv. IR-74
at harvest.

Mean Mean Mean Grai

Treatment Plant Tiller Panicl n
Heigh Coun e Yield
t t Count (t/ha
)
(cm/hill) (no./m2) (no./m2
)
(T1) Control (no fertilizer) 59.48 b 606.2 c 304.7 b 4.79 b
(T2) Chemical fertilizer
(90-60-60) 70.22 a 721.9 b 529.7 a 6.02 a
(T3) Chem. fert. (45-30-30) +
bioorganic fertilizer
(500 kg /ha) 70.57 a 764.1 a 531.2 a 6.17 a
(T4) Bioorganic fertilizer
(500 kg / ha) 68.03 a 764.1 a 500.0 a 6.06 a
(T5) Chem. fert. (90-60-60) +
bioorganic fertilizer
(500 kg / ha) 70.18 a 781.2 a 562.5 a 6.35 a

Means followed by the same letter in a column are not significantly different
at 5 % level of significance.

All these organic and microbial fertilizer technologies have

concrete proofs of effectiveness in various crops and soils
(Fig. 22). Research results are further being strengthened with
continuing field and demonstration trials in cooperation with
various government, private, and non-government
organizations as well as farmer-cooperatives and associations
in lieu of a national testing program. Testimonials on the
products' effectiveness are also available from various
farmer practitioners who have been using the products for
many years.
 Fig. 22. Farmer-maintained
rice crop applied
with inoculated
compost.

Other organic and microbial fertilizers from private

manufacturers are in the local market as well. These are
mainly organic fertilizers.
In the beginning, most work on organic and microbial
fertilizers have been mainly research-driven. In the 1970s, the
energy crisis has goaded most governments to put research
funds into biological processes as a long-term solution to the
depletion of fossil-based fuels. The move of the Philippine
government along this line has produced the present
examples of organic and microbial fertilizers.
In the new millennium, when it was identified by many civic
and funding institutions that the greatest need is poverty
reduction all over the world, the drive for enterprise
development and income generation has fostered the
commercialization of organic and microbial fertilizers and
similar products. The initiative now of the universities and the
government agencies is for wider adoption of locally-developed
organic and microbial fertilizers, and if possible, linking them
with the private sector for wider dissemination.
The methods and strategies used in organic and microbial
fertilizers development and use are presented in Figure 23.
Besides the field research activities, which at the same
time provide venues for field demonstration, direct seminars,
training workshops, and field demonstration tests, offer
opportunities to reach many farmers and potential product
end-users.
The organic and microbial fertilizers coming from other
private manufacturers are also very active in holding product
seminars and demonstration trials (Table 18).
 (1)
Laboratory
& Pot
Testing &
Evaluation (3)
(2)
Field testing Cooperators'
& evaluation & farmers' field
trials in various
locations

(5)
Networking with (4)
government & Coordinated
private sectors, farmers' use
media campaign in various
& product sales regions

Fig. 23. Methods and strategies for fertilizer development and use.

Table 18. Training activities on bioorganic fertilizer from April

1991 to June 1995.

Services Number

Technical:
Training materials 23
Courses 90
Participants
Seminars 206 (8 courses)
Training courses 1490 (78 courses)
Individual special trainings 1 (1 course)
Special seminars/conferences 189 (3 courses)

Grand total number of participants 1886

Entrepreneural:
Training packages developed 3
Trainors’ training courses held 1
Number of participants 18
Number of entrepreneurial trainings held 6

Total number of participants 145

Current Trends

Most of the organic and microbial fertilizers discussed

are now commercialized or directly sold by some government
agencies like U.P. Los Baños. As a government entity, the
BIOTECH-UPLB gets orders from farmers or cooperatives.
Other private manufacturers of organic and microbial
fertilizers are very active in commercialization. Although they
have their own product sales, not one is a key player in the
market. Of course, the market is still dominated by chemical
fertilizers as these have been existing since the 1950s. Field
survey would show that Sagana organic fertilizer has relatively
large product sales in Northern Luzon; Phela Resources, Inc.
sells some 60,000 of 50-kg bags of organic fertilizers per year
in Mindanao mainly to Dole Philippines; Sanders organic
fertilizer has large sales in Central Luzon. Effective
Micoorganisms (EM) is said to sell well to piggery and poultry
establishments.
The market and general usage for organic and microbial
fertilizers may be considered just starting in the Philippines.
This is normal for any new product introductions. Even
chemical fertilizers had to incubate for more than 20 years for
them to become key market players.
But the organic and microbial fertilizers as a product have
moved. Not only are organic farming enthusiasts interested but
also commercial plantations are taking note of the benefits of
organic and microbial fertilizers.
Nevertheless, the organic and microbial fertilizers as an
export product are a long way to global competitiveness.
However, these are becoming significant ingredients in the
export crop market. Dole Philippines has been using local
organic fertilizers for its banana export. AlterTrade Corporation
applies the same for its sugar and banana exports. The local
market has been absorbing some organic and microbial
fertilizer sales. The income from these sales provides added
employment and income for workers. The Payoga-Kapatagan,
Inc. , an organic fertilizer business in Isabela being technically
assisted by the BIOTECH-UPLB, has had regular sales of
some 2,000 bags of organic fertilizers per year and is
sustaining some five field workers from its income. This has
been going on for the last 7 years. For a small business like
that in a rural community, such an output is a feat in itself.
At BIOTECH-UPLB, the biofertilizer product Bio-N has
registered a dramatic increase in sales in the last 3 years
mainly due to the direct support from the government. The
increase in income is shown

in Table 19. If the organic and microbial fertilizer business

could be given more push and support, there is no reason why
its status cannot be elevated from a micro-industry to a major
market player. For a developing country, added income from
these new activities is no small contribution to the sustenance
of its people.
Table 19. Yearly production and sales of Bio-N from 1997 to 2000.
 Year Production Sales
(in 200-g packs) (P)

1997 527 10,540

1998 1,94 38,925
7
1999 4,64 92,935
7
2000 9,60 192,010
0
The main benefit of organic and microbial fertilizer use is
the promise of enhanced food production at minimum
chemical fertilizer inputs. Research results proved that the
combined use of organic fertilizer or microbial fertilizer with
reduced chemical fertilizer input gives higher yield compared
with the use of chemical fertilizers alone. Combined with the
potential of producing organic and microbial fertilizers locally,
food production in this regard would tend to be substantially
enhanced and use of dollar reserves will be reduced. In this
light, food production could really be promoted as an action
program promising better income and nutrition for the many
which is the essence of an active food security measure.

Problems and Constraints

The wider adoption and commercialization of organic and

microbial fertilizers are the biggest constraints of the industry.
An organizational set-up fine-tuned to these goals should aid
the process a great deal. A private organization or a suitably
supported university-based business unit would be in a better
position to answer the calls of production, product linkages,
marketing, and sales.
However, more support activities are needed along the
following areas:(a) conduct of more regional and
demonstration trials and collection of only the more important
data sets; (b) arrangements for production linkages and
setups to handle inoculum production;
(c) commercial agreements to enhance production and sales
of inoculants.

Economic Considerations

Commercial Organic Fertilizer (COF) plays a central role in

organic- based farming systems also known as sustainable
agriculture. Currently, organic-based agriculture has received
increasing attention among academic researchers, government
leaders, and policy makers worldwide. In the Philippines, the
Department of Agriculture (DA), as the lead agency mandated
to ensure sustainability in agricultural production, incorporated
organic-based farming practices in its major programs, notably
the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Programs for rice,
corn, and high value commercial crops (GMA-Rice, GMA-
Corn, and GMA- HVCC). Under the GMA programs, the
application of COF ensures a balance between and among
goals of self-sufficiency, cost-efficiency, and ecological
balance.
In June 2004, the DA-Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries
Product Standards (DA-BAFPS), initiated the First National
Planning Workshop for Organic Agriculture. It was conducted
to assess and update all stakeholders and participants on the
status of the organic industry. Likewise, the participants
drafted and presented to the incumbent Agriculture Secretary
a comprehensive action plan to jumpstart and sustain the
organic agriculture development in the country. In September
2004, DA also conducted an accounting of COF to determine
the availability of the product in the market. The study was in
preparation for the implementation of DA’s TIPID ABONO for
its GMA-Rice Program. The study showed that available COF
is not enough to meet the expected demands if DA
implements its program nationwide.
In November 2004, DA implemented its TIPID ABONO
Program in selected areas using the Balanced Fertilization
Scheme (BFS). The reason for the piloting of the program is
the prohibitive cost of synthetic fertilizers that could drastically
affect the target production for the rice program.
Other economic considerations influencing the use of
and/or shift to COF are:

 Use of COF increased crop yields by 20–30% and in

some instances even as high as 100% depending on
soil condition. In wetland rice, the COF application
gave almost comparable
results with that of farms using chemical fertilizers
(Ravago 1992 as cited in Baticados and Calampiano
1996);
 If applied on a regular basis, COF use could reduce
and in some instances eliminate the use of pesticides.
Pests are said to avoid sturdier crops as these have
tougher plant cells and emit a taste that repels insects
 compared with plants using chemical fertilizers alone
(PCARRD 1987 as cited in Baticados and Calampiano
1996). Also, reports indicated that application of
essential elements using BFS minimized disease
incidence;
 Organically grown products aside from being more
profitable due to their higher market prices than
conventionally-produced ones were found to have
longer shelf life; and,
 At the farm level, results showed that Rapid
Composting Technology users in rice in Iloilo, Ilocos
Sur, and Davao del Norte and in sugarcane in
Bukidnon significantly increased yields, total returns,
and net returns as compared to non- compost users
(Rola et al. 1996).

The following attributes significantly affect the farmers’

decision in adopting composting and use of COF: farm size,
non-farm incomes, and frequent contacts with extension
agents.
In any business venture, profit determines economic
viability, hence entrepreneurs really take time preparing
business plans based on the marketability of their products
and services before actually starting their business ventures.
Market research is a key consideration. The major
components of a market research include but are not limited to
the following:

 Product Profile
a) Existing products of the same nature and their
respective market shares
b) Competing products and their market shares
c) Product specifications

 Market Profile
a) Target market
b) Size of current market/s for the product and/or
service to be offered
c) Market expansion potential
d) Market penetration strategies

 Product Promotion
a) Packaging
b) Pricing and pricing schemes
c) Promotional activities
  Budgetary requirements to produce the product/s that
could sustain good market shares.

In the COF business, majority of the entrepreneurs who

pioneered into production were environmentalists and organic
advocates with business interests not directly involved in
agricultural production. They are either introduced to the
benefits of “healthy organic lifestyle” by scientist-friends, or
simply socio-civic minded citizens trying to be part of a
growing group of environmental activists.

Economic Viability Based on Supply and Demand

As of June 30, 2005, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority

(FPA) reported 43 registered companies engaged in the
organic fertilizer business as manufacturers, importers, and
traders. However, the FPA also reported in its “Organic
Fertilizer Supply-Demand Statistics” for the period 1991–2002,
the instability of COF production (Table 20). The report
showed that the highest production volume was in 1992 at
1,646,240 bags (73,212 t) and the lowest was in 2001 at
139,376 bags (6,969 t). In the updated report for 2003,
production decreased further to 2,758.35 t. The report also
indicated that from 1999 the number of companies reporting
decreased dramatically. The volume sold annually is much
lower compared to production. Hypothetically, the report gave
an impression that low sales turnout forced some companies
to shut down and or lower production.
Considering the large area for crop production as reflected
in Table 21, the OF sales reported is very low. This means that
the COF manufacturers were not able to penetrate the
lucrative fertilizer market.
Technical Paper #9 of PEARL-2 Project entitled State of
the Sector Report: Philippine Organic and Natural Products
published

Table 20. Organic fertilizer supply and demand statistics, 1991–2002.

Year Production Sales

(t) (50 kg /bag) (t) (50 kg /bag)

1991 43,052 861,040 15,828 316,560

1992 73,212 1,646,240 17,138 342,760
1993 7,647 152,940 5,973 119,460
1994 12,458 249,160 11,070 221,400
1995 21,769 435,380 28,090 561,800
 1996 14,754 295,080 12,734 254,680
1997 11,651 233,020 12,102 242,040
1998 16,893 337,860 15,684 313,680
1999a 8,951 179,011 9,764 195,279
2000b 12,108 242,169 11,961 239,219
2001c 6,969 139,376 6,770 135,396
2002d 21,160 423,203 1,914 38,277

From 13 companies; bfrom 12 companies; cfrom 6 companies; dfrom 6 companies.

a

Source: FPA 2003.

Table 21. Agricultural crop production statistics, Philippines, 2000. a

Mean Area Harvested Production

Yield
Crop (t/ha) (‘ 000 ha) (‘ 000 t)

Palay 3.07 4,038.1 12,389.4

Corn 1.80 2,510.3 4,511.1
Coconut 3.06 4,089.9 12,499.1
Sugarcane 63.20 372. 23,518.5
1
Fruits 10.65 678. 7,219.3
0
Rootcrops 6.42 405. 2,603.9
5
Vegetables 6.38 163. 1,046.5
9
Coffee 0.86 136. 117.0
5
Fiber Crops 0.72 115. 83.7
0
Rubber 2.42 76.8 185.5
Tobacco 1.21 40.8 49.5
Spices 4.25 14.6 62.1
Cacao 0.59 11.1 6.6
Others 15.98 239. 3,819.4
0
Total 12,891.6 68,111.6
a
2001 Philippine Statistical Yearbook, National Statistical Coordination Board.

in December 2004, offers an explanation on the downtrend in

volume of production of COF. The paper presented the following
findings:

 Generally speaking, the organic industry in the country

is still in its infancy stage, with most firms having an
average of 2–5 years of operation. These firms are
basically engaged in processing and trading of organic
produce. The “pioneers” in the inputs/COF sub-sector
 have been established in the last 15–18 years, hence,
the market for the produce of the “pioneers” is not yet
established or not yet fully established.

2. There is no single, unified organic sector at the time the

study was conducted. With government support (i.e.,
education, research, and extension) still focused mainly
on conventional agriculture, organic agriculture (OA)
remains dependent on the private sector, non-
government organizations (NGOs) and Peoples’
Organizations (POs). OA is comprised mainly of small-
scale and fragmented projects/initiatives spread across
the country.

3. On market coverage, about 83% of respondents sell

their produce to the domestic market, 56% of which
concentrate their marketing activities in Metro Manila.

Since the processing and trading sub-sector of the OA

sector is not yet fully organized, manufacturers depend mostly
on government, like DA for their market. In 1995, DA
implemented a program on COF use, hence the high volume
sold for the year.
The low sales volume of COF production as described and
reported did not discourage Galactic Resources Development
Corp. (GRDC). GRDC manufactures ALPHA S.P. OF, GRO
EZ foliar fertilizers, and natural inputs (Fig. 24) . It started
business in 1993. The Corporation attributes the low sales
volume to the “state of readiness of the farmers” to shift to
organic agriculture. The small group who had been advocating
for the shift to the new paradigm cannot compete with the
inorganic fertilizer sub-sector mainly because they have been
established for years. The marketing infrastructure, the
government support in terms of research and development
(R&D), training, and credit all favor conventional agriculture,
thus favoring the inorganic fertilizer sub- sector. The business
started with a very high market potential yet

100 PR FOR ORGANIC FERTILIZER PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION

 Fig. 24. ALPHA S.P. organic fertilizer produced at
GRDC, Batangas.

cannot penetrate simply because of lack of policy to support organic agriculture.

Tan (2000) reported that over the next 10 years, organic global market would
explode. In 2002, the global organic market was valued at US$23 B, with an
estimated annual growth rate of 25.2% based on global sales of US$11 B in 1998
(Stiftung & Oekologie [SOL] 2002).
The high demand for organic products basically fresh food crops and herbal
products creates the demand for organic inputs, basically OF. Aside from high cost of
inorganic fertilizer, other developments that could pump-prime the OF industry include:

 The shift in program priorities of the DA through the implementation of the

Balanced Fertilization Scheme under the TIPID ABONO Project of GMA-Rice
Program.
In support of the program, the National Agriculture and Fisheries Council
(NAFC) launched “Organikong Abono Tulong sa Magsasakang Pilipino,” a
bridge financing program that provides collateral-free, zero-percent interest
loan to nine selected OF producers to enable them to increase production in
time for the cropping season. Land Bank and QUEDANCOR were also
involved in the program. The program is expected to create demand for at
least 5 M COF per cropping cycle,

because a total of 1 M ha are programmed to be planted per cropping under

the GMA-Rice Program.

 The approval of the Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic products.
Currently, the BAFPS is reviewing the PNS for OF to impose stricter quality
control that would prevent production of sub-standard products.

 The recent establishment of the Philippine National Organic Agriculture Board

which supports among others the:
a) implementation of the Philippine National Organic Standards and
Certification System; and b) establishment and adoption of a five-year Organic
Industry Development Program by the respective units of DA in partnership
with the private sector.

Sustained growth of the OF industry depends on the following:

 Organic integrity
This does not apply only to the producers of organic rice, fruits, vegetables,
and other food and non-food commodities. Organic integrity should emanate
 from the inputs sub-sector. The following are MUSTS:

- Maintenance of quality pursuant to existing PNS for organic fertilizer and to

standards set by the FPA.
- Selection of the right and appropriate manufacturing technology, i.e., waste
and compost materials, inoculants, and compost fungus activator (CFA).
- Composting of raw farmyard manure (poultry, cattle, swine, goat, and
sheep) before application to avoid spread of pathogenic diseases.

 Good marketing network

Current marketing setup and strategies of COF producers are heavily
dependent on government programs notably the DA and LGUs. Some firms,
like GRDC, have dealers but the main problem is parallelism of principles.
Usually, the distributors and dealers are the regular agricultural supply stores.
These carry both organic and inorganic inputs which is understandable
because their respective business enterprises are governed by the “profit
syndrome and dictum.” Ideally, the OF manufacturer and dealer must be
organic advocates and must be parallel in their business thinking and
advocacy for them to focus on the promotion of the organic products they sell.
There must also be harmony of actions like conduct of training of farmers and
after- sales monitoring that would serve as feedback mechanism for the OF
manufacturer.

The following are suggested marketing strategies:

 The producer as marketer. The OF producer must have his own demo farm
and his own outlets outside of Metro Manila. GRDC, for example, maintains a
5-ha farm in its OF production plant in Brgy. Masaya, Rosario, Batangas (Fig.
25). The demo and production farm showcases technologies on 100% organic
and natural farming using GRDC products. Likewise, a regular training is
conducted monthly for organic enthusiasts. Sales and product turnover was
observed to increase because of this strategy.

 Franchising. One observation highlighted in the PEARL-2 Project study was

that firms engaged in organic and natural products are concentrated in Luzon,
particularly Metro Manila.

Fig. 25. Organic fertilizer production plant at GRDC, Batangas.

This is true even for COF producers. Considering that the consumers for OF
are in the countryside, franchising would be the best marketing strategy to
ensure the presence of the OF to a wider consumer base. This scheme would
further boost profits for the FRANCHISOR (Registered manufacturer) because
he will not spend for transport and his product would be competitive. The
FRANCHISOR must convince a FRANCHISEE in areas where there are large
agricultural lands. Another major consideration is the availability of raw
materials.