DA assures steady fertilizer supply, promotes biofertilizers amid Middle East tensions
MANILA — Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. assured that the country’s fertilizer supply remains stable despite rising tensions in the Middle East, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) intensifies efforts to promote alternative inputs to offset increasing global prices.
In a statement released Wednesday, Tiu Laurel said supply disruptions are not a major concern, but higher oil and shipping costs are expected to push fertilizer prices upward, particularly with key trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz under pressure.
“Supply is not the issue—it’s really the price,” he emphasized, noting that the DA is shifting focus toward reducing dependence on imported and inorganic fertilizers while supporting long-term agricultural sustainability and productivity.
During a visit to Agri Specialists Inc. with Francis Pangilinan, the agriculture chief highlighted locally produced biofertilizers developed by researchers from the University of the Philippines Los Baños National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
He explained that one kilogram of biofertilizer can potentially replace up to two 50-kilogram bags of urea fertilizer. Priced at around ₱750 per kilogram, it is significantly cheaper compared to the roughly ₱2,500 cost of a single bag of complete fertilizer.
The DA has been promoting biofertilizers, liquid fertilizers, and soil enhancers even before the escalation of geopolitical tensions earlier this year, which drove oil prices higher and raised concerns over global supply chains.
Data from the agency show that only about 20 percent of the country’s imported urea fertilizers in 2025 came from Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with most supplies sourced from Asian nations including Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam.
Imports of ammonium sulfate fertilizers, meanwhile, came entirely from China and Japan, further limiting the country’s reliance on Middle Eastern supply routes.
Despite stable supply, the DA warned that rising input and transport costs could increase food prices by around ₱2 to ₱5 per kilogram, with rice likely to be the most affected due to its heavy fertilizer use.
Field trials conducted by the agency indicate that farmers can reduce urea application by half—or even more—without compromising yields by using bio-based and nanotechnology-driven alternatives.
“If farmers previously used 10 sacks of urea, they may now only need five or even as few as three,” Tiu Laurel noted, citing successful trial results.
Senator Pangilinan also warned that the ongoing energy crisis could pose risks to food security if not addressed, especially given its potential impact on agricultural inputs. He pointed out that the DA’s budget was already limited prior to the crisis and called for a review of the 2026 national budget, with the possibility of a supplemental allocation if needed.
Tiu Laurel assured that the DA will continue expanding the use of alternative inputs and other interventions to stabilize production and protect consumers from further price increases amid the evolving global situation.
NPO News Team | Philippine News Agency - PR
