SINAG calls for fertilizer subsidy amid global price surge

Agricultural advocacy group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Saturday called on the government to distribute fertilizer subsidies to farmers to support their livelihoods amid rising fertilizer costs resulting from global oil price shocks.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said the price per bag of urea fertilizer has jumped by P1,500.

Cainglet added that farm input expenses for farmers, which include fertilizers, have already risen to P90,000 to P120,000 per hectare from the pre-Middle East war cost of P60,000 per hectare.

With this, the SINAG executive director said farmers are not asking for cash handouts but for financial assistance to help them with rising farm input costs.

"We've been saying this all along, ayaw natin ng ayuda. Hindi ayuda ang hinihingi ng farmer kundi tulong sa kanyang pagsasaka, tulong sa kanyang gastos," Cainglet said.

"Una, 'yung sinasabi nating fertilizer subsidy. Bigyan sila ng cash voucher para makapamili ang farmer," he said.

The SINAG executive director said farmers need a fertilizer subsidy of about P30,000 per hectare.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier appealed to the national government for an additional P30 billion to provide fertilizers and subsidies to farmers amid high fuel costs.

The DA is currently implementing a nationwide rollout of the P10 billion Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program (PAFFP)—aimed at providing a critical financial cushion for agricultural producers grappling with volatile fuel and production costs.

The Agriculture Department also tapped its P1 billion quick response fund (QRF), which was activated following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s declaration of a state of national energy emergency last month. — VDV, GMA News