Law to regulate chicken dung business

By Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - Chicken dung is now commonly used as organic fertilizers among farmers in the province but following complaints that dung sold nowadays are of poor and inferior quality, adulterated or with mixed with other materials, the provincial board is mulling to regulate the trade.

Board member Apolinario Camsol, who chairs the committee on agriculture, introduced an ordinance governing and regulating the sale and delivery of chicken dung in the province with corresponding penalties in violation of the measure.

The provincial board passed on second reading the proposed ordinance in their regular session held recently.

Camsol said there has to be a measure passed as a basis for the concerned agencies to do their share in regulating the sale of chicken dung such as inspection, sampling and apprehension of violators.

The emission of foul and obnoxious odor of fresh and wet chicken dung being transported not only dismays locals but tourists alike, according to Camsol.

There is also a rise in price regardless of the kind of chicken dung being sold as there is a high demand.

With prices ranging from P100 to P120 per sack, farmers according to Camsol, are 'buying in silence' the chicken dung whether sold as pure or adulterated.

Should the ordinance take effect, Camsol urged the need to classify the chicken dung as to quality in order to have a pricing scheme from inferior to superior quality.

The source should also be identified, he said. The dung are mostly procured from Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.