The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), with the Department of Agriculture RFO V, formally turned over close to 1 million pesos worth of composting facility to the Organic Agriculture Center as one of the eight (8)Β beneficiaries of the facility under the Organic Agriculture Program in the Bicol Region through the effort of the Center Director, Ms. Lily John B. Casimiro on January 17, 2023, at the DA-RFO 5, San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur.
The ceremonial turnover was attended by Dr. Mary Grace DP. Rodriquez, Field Operations Division, D. Luz R. Marcelino, RTD for Operations, and Dr. Ernesto B. Brampio, BSWM Chief. The facility was also inspected at the OAC by a team from BSWM headed by Mr. Adrian Manalaysay, Mr. Darwin Nevares, and Mr. Ken Justine C. Balbuena from OAP DA-RFO V.
The project aims to alleviate the problem on the utilization of biodegradable wastes and by-products and transform the diverted wastes into beneficial organic fertilizers. It intends to provide means of converting biodegradable wastes into organic compost products that organic practitioners could use in the production of rice, corn, high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables, and other crops.
CFBW comprises one (1) unit rotary composter and one (1) unit shredding machine. One machine can produce 1,000 kilos or 67 tons of compost per month. It can make a good compost or organic fertilizer for various crops after around a 40-hour decomposition process. OAC intends to share the facility with the community to encourage them to use and maximize the facility in their respective waste management system and promote organic farming using organic fertilizers through reuse, recycling, composting, and other resource recovery activities.
