Using The Right Fertilizer Can Help Cacao Farmers Cope With Changing Weather Patterns
Agriculture|May 2019

SINCE EL NIÑO, which developed during the last quarter of 2018, is still present in the tropical Pacific Ocean, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has advised farmers to take good care of their crops.

Julio P. Yap, Jr.
Using The Right Fertilizer Can Help Cacao Farmers Cope With Changing Weather Patterns

Most farmers know very well that water stress may alter the physiological and metabolism of plants and reduce the quality and quantity of their harvest, and that irrigation is essential to ensure successful crop production in water stressed farms or regions.

Barly D. Valenzuela, caretaker of a cacao nursery and plantation in Barangay Atipulan, Bago City in Negros Occidental, knows that cacao trees cannot tolerate drought very well, and will require climates with high precipitation and humidity to thrive.

In order for the cacao tree to provide a good harvest, the grower still has plenty of work to perform.

To look after a cacao plantation, a farmer has to replace seedlings that have not grown, remove the weeds and keep the soil covered, prune the trees, protect the cacao trees from insects and diseases, and apply the necessary fertilizer.

But stress or damage to agricultural crops due to weather disturbances could be prevented or minimized with the proper application of farm inputs like organic fertilizers and related products.

During these times, many farmers have already used an organic fertilizer with the brand name Amino Plus Foliar Fertilizer or APFF, which could help them cope with the changing weather patterns.

In fact, the product has already helped many farmers maintain the health of their crops, even during occurrences of drought or flooding.

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