DA EYES FERTILIZER IMPORTS FROM CHINA AND RUSSIA AMID GLOBAL SUPPLY CONCERNS

The Philippines has begun talks with China, Russia, India, and Belarus to secure a steady supply of fertilizers amid rising global fuel prices and tensions in the Middle East.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the country has already met over 80 percent of its fertilizer needs through September, but delivery uncertainty remains due to potential price surges.

Nitrogen-based fertilizers, primarily imported and derived from natural gas, are especially vulnerable, with urea prices potentially doubling if the conflict escalates.

China has offered not only fertilizer supply but also farming techniques to reduce usage without affecting yields, which Tiu Laurel described as “food diplomacy.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture is preparing contingency measures, including fuel subsidies for farmers and a potential price cap on imported rice, to mitigate the impact on both farmers and consumers.

Source: PhilNews24 | March 19, 2026