The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) delivered muriate of potash and urea fertilizers to 22 Farmers’ Associations (FAs) across Abra last March 11, 2025.
The initiative aims to enhance soil fertility and boost crop production, particularly for lowland vegetable farming, ginger and assorted vegetable production, peanut and taro farming, and other agricultural projects.
The distribution, held at the Abra Vegetable Seed Growers Development Cooperative (AVSECO), Pidigan, Abra, provided 133 bags of muriate of potash and additional urea fertilizers to farmer groups from various municipalities, including Bucloc, Daguioman, Dolores, La Paz, and more.
Among the recipients, Lulubba Farmers’ Association in Dolores received the highest allocation with 15 bags of muriate of potash, while other FAs received 2 to 5 bags per association based on their specific needs.
Fertilizers play a vital role in replenishing soil nutrients, improving crop yield, and ensuring long-term soil health. Muriate of potash enhances plant resistance to pests and diseases, strengthens root development, and improves crop quality, while urea provides essential nitrogen to support plant growth and increase productivity.
According to Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) sub-unit Associate Project Officer Analine G. Liccud, the provision of fertilizers was based on the specific needs identified by the FAs for their respective agricultural projects.
“These fertilizers were requested by the farmer associations themselves, ensuring that the interventions are aligned with their actual production requirements. By providing the necessary soil nutrients, we are helping them maximize their yield and sustain their farming activities,” Liccud said.
This initiative is part of DA-SAAD CAR’s continuous efforts to support smallholder farmers with essential agricultural inputs, helping them overcome challenges related to soil degradation and nutrient deficiencies.###
Writer: Arden S. Taltala, DA-SAAD CAR Information Officer II
