The Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday said it is studying the possible imposition of suggest retail price (SRP) on fertilizers amid rising cost globally.
In a virtual briefing yesterday, DA spokesman Noel Reyes said officials of the DA, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and the Fertilizer Industry Association of the Philippines are looking into this as a preemptive measure Reyes said the DA is also looking for alternative sources of fertilizers, particularly in Iran and Brunei.
“For the medium term, we are also looking at the use of local and indigenous fertilizers. We are seeking for a balanced fertilization strategy and the use of bio-fertilizers. We want a good mix of organic and inorganic fertilizers that can help in maintaining good yield for farmers,” Reyes added.
Reyes said SRPs will help pull down production cost of farmers as it will cap prices of agricultural inputs while maintaining the production yield high.
The DA said global prices of fertilizers have been greatly affected by China’s move to temporarily stop exports and dedicate its supply to the domestic market.
The Philippines imports 2.3 million metric tons (MT) of the 2.6 million MT annual national fertilizer requirements. China supplies 18 to 20 percent of the country’s fertilizer needs.
The DA said prices of fertilizer have hit over P1,700 per bag last November from last year’s P1,000 per bag average price.
The FPA monitors the average price of six inorganic types of fertilizers.
As of November 26 this year, prilled urea is the most expensive at P2,154.48 per bag followed by di-ammonium phosphate at P2,149.59; granular urea at P2,119.77; potassium chloride at P1,621.49; complete fertilizer mix of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at P1,581.78; ammophos at P1,459.14; and ammosul at P1,111.12.
In the same briefing, the DA said prices of all agricultural commodities are stable except for pork and chicken which recorded increases ahead of the Christmas season.
Ramon Yedra, DA director for agribusiness and marketing assistance service, said the increase in the price of chicken is driven by higher costs of feeds.
The DA said shipments of soya from the United States, which is a major component of chicken feeds, have been delayed.
Yedra said pork prices are high due to the effects of the African swine fever to the local supply but noted imported frozen varieties remain cheaper than fresh counterparts.
Based on data from the DA’s Bantay Presyo in 11 markets in Metro Manila, as of yesterday , prevailing price per kilogram of pork kasim is at P330; pork liempo at P360 while whole chicken is at P160.
Meanwhile, Laban Konsyumer Inc. president Vic Dimagiba expressed disappointment over the move of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) not to publish in its SRP list several brands of Noche Buena products.
Dimagiba said consumers lost choices of 114 Noche Buena products in the 2021 SRP master list.
He added this has left everyone to speculate these brands are no longer monitored by the agency. This also makes it hard for consumers to determine how much the prices of these products have actually increased.
The SRP of Noche Buena products in the DTI list shrunk 30 percent compared to the list in the past two years at 206 r of stock keeping units (SKUs)
For instance, the SKUs of Noche Buena essentials such as ham brandsshrunk from 33 to 17; queso de bola from 12 to seven; cheese from 15 to five, and tomato sauce from 16 to three. Fruit cocktail brands were removed from the list which means all 12 SKUs raised prices.
