DUMINGAG, Zamboanga del Sur - the Department of Agriculture (DA) has readied for operations the Bio-N Mixing Plant to help increase rice and corn production of the municipality, lower the cost of production, and create more jobs.

Moyor Edgardo G. Jamero stood as guest of honor during the inauguration of the 2nd Bio-N Mixing Plant at Barangay Upper Landing in this town last Friday, Sept. 23.

DA Regional Executive Director Dr. Oscar Parawan said the fertilizer plant will be operated by the officers and members of MANTILIBA Farmers Integrated Agricultural Multi-purpose Cooperative (FIAMCO) based in this town.

The municipality of Dumingag is a consistent winner in the annual search for the cleanest municipality for being a smoke-free (no smoking) town and one of the biggest rice producing areas in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region, the DA said.

During the program, Juliet Anarna, Bio-N study leader, Biotech Production Division, University of the Philippines-Los Baños, Laguna demonstrated how to make Bio-N and its advantages over commercial fertilizer, Parawan said.

Parawan said it took them two years of research and trials before they fully implemented the Bio-N fertilizer manufacturing nationwide. Bio-N can be used to fertilize palay and vegetables farms, Parawan said.

Parawan said Bio-N is composed mainly of micro organisms that convert nitrogen from the air into ammonia and provide some of the nitrogen requirements of plants.