(PanamaNewsRoom) The use of organic fertilizers by Panama farmers is on the upswing, helping the environment and cutting costs.

Coffee and rice waste mixed with manure and ashes is providing an environmentally friendly product, and  helps farmers control pests and fungi without using pesticides or insecticides, said Demetrio Diaz, manager of Aboquete, a Boquete based company that  has an agreement to collect waste products from farms to produce organic fertilizer.

The organic fertilizer says La Prensa is substantially cheaper than chemical treatments, selling for 1/3 of the cost. A quintal of the organic fertilizer is sold at $10.

The company is planning to expand into providing fertilizer for mushroom production and will invest $350,000 in the projectincluding a grant from the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation

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Original Source: PanamaNewsRoom

Date Retrieved: March 26, 2011