Enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of corn farmer through sustainable production and use of Bio N fertilizer (phase 1 and 2)

The project was implemented by the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH)- University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the National Food Authority (NFA) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and its attached agencies such as the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and DA Corn Program. The project aimed to increase the efficiency and profitability of corn production and income of corn farmers through the Bio N Technology. Bio N is a microbial-based fertilizer intended to supply 30 to 50% of the nitrogen requirements of rice, corn, and other high value vegetables. Bio-N has the ability to recycle atmospheric nitrogen into available form for plant use. The establishment of Bio N mixing plants aimed to provide the availability of the product in the service areas. A marketing enterprise profitably managed by the grantees was also the target of the project. The institutional arrangements for the project as stipulated in the MOA are the following: 1) the NFA provided funding thru CDF project grant, logistical support/monitoring three CDF-PSG/TWG; 2) the DA is responsible for over-all project management through the DA Corn Program; 3) BSWM is in-charge in the procurement of equipment and supplies, marketing support/advocacy and monitoring; 4) BIOTECH-UPLB is responsible for technology transfer and technical assistance to the mixing plants. The monitoring and quality control of the reconstituted Bio N is being done by BIOTECH-UPLB and the accredited BSWM staff. Fifty packets of Bio N concentrates were provided free to the recipients of the mixing plants used for the initial production. The beneficiaries of the project provided counterpart resources i.e. land, building, personnel, technology, demo plots, pots, and farms. Other materials for the production and operating expenses also served as counterpart of the recipients. A total of 20 Bio N mixing plants were evaluated by the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the 20 mixing plants 15 cooperative were trained on Bio N reconstitution by BIOTECH-UPLB. The remaining five mixing plants were previously evaluated and passed the requirements. A training manual on Bio N production was prepared and distributed to the recipients of the project. A total of 550 packets of Bio N concentrates for corn were distributed to the recipients for their initial production producing 11,000 packets (2.2 ton) of reconstituted Bio N. The beneficiaries of the project had already purchased Bio N concentrates for rice and corn. From 2007 to 2011 the mixing plants already purchased 7,725 packets of corn concentrates and 2,538 packets of rice concentrates thus, producing 205,260 packets of Bio N amounting to Php 12,315,600.00 @ Php 60.00 per packet. The innovative partnership and effective linkages between BIOTECH-UPLB, DA and its attached agencies such as BSWM, Corn Program, NFA-CORN Development Fund and the recipients of the project hastened the transfer and commercialization of Bio N technology. The effective transfer and commercialization of Bio N technology generated livelihood to the corn sectors.