While global tensions and the Iran–U.S. standoff send imported fertilizer prices soaring, 77-year-old retired soldier Silvestre M. Bucat has found a way to win his own battle in the fields of Brgy. Canaynayan, Sta. Cruz, Zambales. By embracing the Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS), Bucat transformed his 1.5-ha farm into a model of profitability, slashing his production costs while increasing his yield.
“Our total cost went down to only PhP20,000. That’s a huge relief for us,” he shared.
His wife, Helen, noted that their harvest went up from 3.5 t/ha to 3.95 t/ha.
BFS in Zambales
BFS is an approach that combines the proper use of inorganic fertilizers with organic and biological inputs to improve soil health, increase crop productivity, and reduce fertilizer costs sustainably.
As conflict in the Middle East continues to tighten the supply of imported farm inputs, the cost of traditional farming has become a heavy burden. For Bucat, who used to spend PhP50,000 on 12 sacks of inorganic fertilizer, the pressure was becoming unsustainable.
“We started using chicken manure back in 2010 because we noticed our harvests kept going down. Every five years, we applied organic fertilizer to help the soil recover,” Bucat recalled.
Based on PhilRice studies, this balanced approach not only restores soil health but also helps farmers save up to PhP2,700 per hectare by reducing reliance on expensive inorganic bags. Hence, the campaign Abonong Swak in 2024 encouraged farmers to apply the right type, amount, and timing of fertilizer use while integrating alternative inputs such as organic materials to lower production costs and improve fertilizer efficiency.
“Improved nutrient absorption means farmers get more out of less input,” Bucat said.
For him, this meant dropping his inorganic fertilizer usage from 12 sacks to just 4.5.
Local solutions
Bucat’s experience is a model for the 90 farmers in the 100-ha BFS demo site in Zambales proving that even in the face of international price shocks, sustainable and profitable rice production is possible when farmers are empowered with the right strategy.
For Bucat, BFS didn’t just balance the season’s budget on growing rice. It gave him a way to face rising prices with more confidence, knowing that his farm can remain productive without exhausting the soil.
“Balanced fertilization allows farmers to continue planting rice productively for years to come,” agricultural technician Liezel M. Monsalud emphasized
