BACOLOD CITY – The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has established a research facility in Negros Occidental to enhance the production of beneficial micro-organisms (BMO) as a supplement to inorganic fertilizers, aiming to reduce production costs for sugarcane farmers. The PHP6-million facility, inaugurated at the La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center in La Carlota City, is part of efforts to help the sugar industry.
According to Philippines News Agency, Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona led the opening ceremony of the laboratory on September 6. The initiative is funded under the Sugar Industry Development Act. Ma. Theresa Alejandrino, supervising science research specialist, explained that the lab aims to increase BMO production, which has proven to be an effective fertilizer additive, reducing the need for regular fertilizers by about 30 percent.
Alejandrino added that while BMO technology has been around since the 1990s, farmers have shown more interest in it recently due to the rising costs of fertilizers. In 2023, over 10,000 gallons of BMO were distributed to more than 200 beneficiaries, covering over 1,000 hectares of sugarcane farms.
SRA’s studies indicate that BMO promotes germination, flowering, and fruit ripening while also improving soil structure and fertility. SRA Board Member David Sanson highlighted that small farmers, who form the majority of sugar producers, stand to benefit the most from the lab, as BMO helps reduce fertilizer costs by up to PHP6,000 per hectare.