Biopesticide is also a Fertilizer

Learn how to make your own biofertilizer. 

How would you like to make your own pesticide that is at the same time a fertilizer? You can do that simply by adding fermented garlic and hot pepper to the bio-organic liquid fertilizer developed by Dr. Ronaldo Sumaoang, a microbiologist who is an expert in fermentation technology, having taken two post-graduate courses on the subject as a scholar in Germany several years ago.

The garlic should be peeled and then crushed before fermenting.

Dr. Sumaoang is the maker of the Durabloom liquid bio-organic foliar fertilizer derived from fish extracts that is rich in nutrients and enzymes. He has been using his formulation in his own commercial farming of vegetables and he swears he does not use any chemical pesticides to protect his tomatoes, pechay, eggplant, and many other vegetables, which he sells through his own grocery in their subdivision.

Compared to chemical pesticides, the use of his bio-pesticide formulation is very economical. Spraying one hectare of vegetables with chemical pesticide will easily cost about a thousand pesos. On the other hand, Dr. Sumaoang’s bio-pesticide worth the same amount can treat 10 hectares.

Dr. Sumaoang explained that his original Durabloom bio-organic fertilizer was intended primarily to enhance the growth of vegetables and many other crops. It provides the plants with nutrients to supplement what they can take up from the soil. Because the formulation is somewhat sticky, it is not easily washed off by rain or sprinkler irrigation. But as is, it is not effective in discouraging insect pests from feeding on the plants.

The biopesticide will protect tomatoes from aphids, white flies and other pests.

With the addition of fermented garlic and chilli, Durabloom liquid organic fertilizer becomes an effective deterrent to insect attacks. Dr. Sumaoang explains that by adding fermented garlic and chilli, the acidity is increased to 5 to 6 percent compared to the original 4 percent. The increase in acidity makes it effective as a pesticide, according to him.

The insects are discouraged from attacking the plants sprayed with bio-pesticide because the smell of garlic repels the insects. At the same time, if they start feeding on the sprayed plants, the pungent taste of the hot pepper also discourages the insects.

Here’s an easy way to prepare your own bio-pesticide using Durabloom bio-organic foliar fertilizer as the main carrier. First, ferment the garlic and hot pepper in a second hand 20-liter plastic pail such as those available at Allied Botanical Corporation.

To produce 10 liters of biopesticide, put 9 liters of clean water in the fermenting pail. Add to the water a half kilo of peeled and crushed garlic. Then add a kilo of ripe hot pepper and one liter of molasses. Cover the pail with cheesecloth so air can enter. Place the same in a cool dry place to ferment for 20 to 30 days. After that, harvest the liquid by passing it through a strainer.

After the liquid is harvested, add one liter of Durabloom bio-organic fertilizer. That’s now your biopesticide, which is both a fertilizer and a pesticide. You have to store this in airtight bottles or containers.

The biopesticide can be sprayed on vegetables once a week. Mix 10 tablespoons of 100 ml per 16-liter knapsack sprayer and spray thoroughly on the leaves. According to Dr. Suymaoang, aside from discouraging insect attack, the biopesticide also repels the red ants that are the carriers of aphids that suck the sap of vegetables and other crops.

For more information, visit Novatech  or email [email protected].

This story appeared without a byline in Agriculture Monthly’s April 2017 issue.