Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (Philippines)

The Philippines' Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (Filipino: "Pangasiwaan sa Pataba at Pestisidyo"), abbreviated as FPA, is an agency of the Philippine government under the Department of Agriculture responsible for assuring adequate supplies of fertilizer and pesticide at reasonable prices; rationalizing the manufacture and marketing of fertilizer; protecting the public from the risks inherent in the use of pesticides; and educating the agricultural sector in the use of these inputs.

History

In 1972-1973, Philippines was beset by rice production shortfalls resulting from the series of typhoons and floods and fertilizer shortages spawned by the oil crisis. The resulting four-fold drop in rice production prompted the government to directly intervene in the operations of the fertilizer industry through the issuance of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 135 dated February 22, 1973, creating the Fertilizer Industry Authority (FIA).

Fertilizer and pesticide are vital agricultual inputs in food production and must be supplied in adequate quantities at reasonable costs at all times. The fertilizer and pesticide industries have much in common in terms of clientele, distribution channels, system of application in farmers' fields and technical supervision by the same farm management technicians under the government's food production program. In view hereof, the government abolished the FIA and created the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority on May 30, 1977 by virtue of P.D. 1144.

The FPA is mandated to assure adequate supplies of fertilizer and pesticide at reasonable prices; rationalize the manufacture and marketing of fertilizer; protect the public from the risks inherent in the use of pesticides; and educate the agricultural sector in the use of these inputs. It is attached to the Department of Agriculture.

ee also

*Department of Agriculture

External links

* [http://www.fpa.gov.ph FPA Homepage]