The Lorenzo family-owned Lapanday Foods Corporation (LFC) has expanded its program to convert all banana rejects into organic fertilizer using the Bokashi method of fermentation of banana fruit rejects, stalks and other biodegradable materials to minimize generation of solid waste materials.
In a press statement, the company said that converting agricultural biodegradable solid waste is not only a cost saving program, managed by LFC’s production group. It is also an effective program that eliminates the accumulation of biodegradablesolid waste within the company’s various farms.
Bokashi, which means “fermented organic matter” has fertilizer as by-product that can be applied directly to the soil. As an organic fertilizer, not only does it return the necessary elements to the soil to increase the level of organicmatteror humus, it also restores vitamins, hormones, and plant enzymes to the soil, improving the soil structure and its capacity to retain water.
According to Hernani P. Geronimo of the LFC Human Resource Division, Bokashi production facilities are found in its plantations in the Davao Region:New Corella, Delta Plantation Operation (DPO),Farmingtown Plantation Operation (FPO), Guihing Plantation Operation (GPO),Malalag Central Operation (MCO), Callawa Plantation Operation(CPO) and South Cotabato:Tampakan. ETI/PIA 11
