The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) delivered seven units of composting facilities for biodegradable waste (CFBWs), valued at PHP7 million, to farmers’ organizations in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, on Wednesday.

Each CFBW, provided to seven farming groups, is a comprehensive set that includes a rotary composter, a shredding machine, a compost press, a compost brewer, and a compost sieving machine.

“These CFBWs will efficiently transform biodegradable wastes, such as crop residues and manures, into high-quality organic fertilizers that can be applied directly on crops,” the Municipal Agricultural Office of Las Nieves said in a statement on Thursday.

The recipient farming groups are the Maningalao Lingayao Agriculture Cooperative, Marcos Calo Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, EGA Corn Cluster Area Farmers Association, Malungtarong West Corn Cluster Farmers Association, Bonifacio Makugihon Rice Farmers Association, Lola Modesta Integrated Farm, and La Granja Diversified Agricultural Farming.

Gavino Marquilla, the head of the EGA Corn Cluster Area Farmers Association, noted in a phone interview that most members of his group are now venturing into organic farming.

“What we usually do is to gather the biodegradable wastes from our farms and leave them to decompose naturally,” Marquilla said. He pointed out that biodegradable farm wastes, when not shredded, would take more than two weeks to decompose.

“These CFBWs would help us decompose our biodegradable wastes in a much shorter time and can be readily used as fertilizers for my corn and vegetables,” Isidro said.

The municipal government acknowledged the efforts of the DA-BSWM in supporting the initiatives of farmers focused on organic farming. (PNA)