by SC Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (23 October) -- Demonstrating their concern on issues affecting the vegetable industry, the Scout Officials for a Day (SOFAD) brought to fore a measure in addressing the sale of fake or adulterated chicken dung in the province.

SOFAD who sat as Sangguniang Panlalawigan members last October 16 adopted a resolution cum ordinance on the formulation of policies on the sale of fake or adulterated chicken dung with corresponding penalties.

Board member Aloysius Kato, who guided the SOFAD SP members said the measure could be adopted by the scout officers which will later be developed as an ordinance by the provincial board as this could not be deliberated upon in one sitting and that it passes through public hearing.

Many farmers are complaining of fake or adulterated chicken dung bought from unscrupulous dealers incurring heavy losses on their farm inputs and eventually, a loss of their agricultural crops, the resolution stated.

Should the product proliferate in the market, the farmers will suffer the consequences and would adversely affect the vegetable industry, the resolution further stated.

Kato confirmed that there are really fake and adulterated chicken manure conditioners circulating. Their modus operandi is to fill the bottom sack with fake manure which contains rice hull, soil, and unidentified manure on top of the pure chicken manure.

Another SOFAD resolution is strongly encouraging the practice of organic farming among Benguet farmers.

The scouts said the use of commercial fertilizers is expensive compared with the organic or compost materials and organic fertilizers. These were also proven to be more effective in preventing vegetable diseases.