Benguet farmers will have to defer using chicken dung as soil conditioner as the provincial government has suspended the entry of the by-product in response to the coronavirus disease-2019 (Covid-19)and avian flu health crisis.
Gov. Melchor Diclas suspended the entry of chicken dung in the province until further notice through Executive Order 2020-018 signed on March 17.
“All kinds of vehicles transporting chicken dung for use as soil conditioner in various farms within the province are hereby suspended effective today until further notice,” Diclas said.
“Chicken dung delivery truckers and farm owners are instructed to immediately stop transporting chicken dung from poultry farms in the lowlands to the different municipalities,” he said.
The order came after the Philippines has been declared under a state of Public Health Emergency through Proclamation 992 due to confirmed local transmission of of the Covid-19.
On top of this is the recent confirmed cases of avian influenza subtype H5N6 in Nueva Ecija.
Diclas said precautions are needed, as this strain of avian flu could be transmitted to humans.
He directed the mayors to disseminate the order to their constituents.
The Department of Agriculture has been advising farmers to use the dried and processed dung for it to be effective and friendly to the soil.
Some farmers are using the wet and unprocessed dung as soil conditioner.
Farmers, especially in Benguet and Mountain Province use chicken dung. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 25, 2024
