The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women condemned the continuing rise in the price of fertilizer and other farm inputs. It said this is yet another burden on peasants already battered by the rising cost of oil used in farm operations.

A bag of urea currently costs ₱2,300–₱2,400, up from ₱1,600–₱1,700 at the end of February, more expensive by 44%. Meanwhile, the price of Triple 14 rose from ₱1,600–₱1,700 per bag to ₱1,900, with the possibility of further hikes. Because of this, fertilizer costs per hectare have doubled. From ₱6,400 for four bags of urea in February, the cost has now reached ₱9,200, an additional ₱2,800. This is worsened by the unbridled rise in diesel prices, which climbed from ₱50.48 per liter in early March to ₱120 per liter in remote provinces.

Overall production costs now range between ₱60,000 and ₱70,000 per hectare. Inadequate state support force many farmers to borrow money at high interest rates, which rural usurers exploit to bury them deeper into debt, the group explained.

“No one else is to blame for the crisis peasants are facing today but Marcos himself for his incompetence. He feeds farmers nothing but deception and paltry subsidy when he is the one responsible for this mess,” Amihan secretary general and Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo declared.

According to the group, the government must immediately respond to the worsening condition of peasants and agriculture. This includes a ₱50,000 production subsidy to help farmers cope with rising production costs.

The group also demanded stricter regulation of farm input prices and a rollback of petroleum products, as well as the strengthening of local production to counter the impact of importation and other neoliberal agricultural policies.