Jese Jones Nacario (center) receives an award for his entry, chicken eggshell. (CONTRIBUTED)
Instead of dumping them into garbage baskets, chicken eggshells can enhance soil quality and lead to better plant growth.
The chicken eggshell, as pH Enhancer technology, was introduced by Jese Jones Nacario, a 19 year-old incoming 4th year chemical engineering student from Minglanilla town in southern Cebu.
Nacario won the provincial level of the Department of Agriculture’s Innovative Technology on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Contest, which was held during the 58th Provincial Farm Family Achievement Day in Cebu City last May 12.
Nacario’s technology contributes in increasing the adaptive capacity of agricultural soils to climate change impacts by enhancing its pH with the use of pulverized chicken eggshell.
In chemistry, pH is a measurement that indicates the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. In his findings, Nacario said that in acidic conditions, “many soil minerals dissolve and increase the concentration of metal ions to toxic levels.”
He said these toxic metals and high levels of manganese and iron impair plant growth.
He claimed that the chicken eggshell is rich in calcium carbonate like lime, which is useful in reviving and even improving soil quality.
Calcium is also a very important mineral for plant roots. If soil nutrients reach maximum level, it increases the ability of the soil to absorb water, he further stated.
A valedictorian in public high school, Nacario is a beneficiary of Capitol’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
He currently works at Minglanilla agriculture’s office as a summer job employee. He enjoys a minimum salary rate with 60 percent being paid by the province and 40 percent paid by DOLE.
Aside from the innovative technology category, there were 12 other competitions during the event.
Minglanilla won the innovative technology, duck meat cooking, indigenous plaque making, extemporaneous speaking and photography and feature writing contests.
Sibonga topped the lubok, tahop, alig-ig, and balak competitions.
San Fernando reigned in the 4-H (Head, Heart, Hands, Health) quiz bee and cassava-based processing contests while Naga City dominated the sweet potato processing and packaging technology challenge.
Toledo City won the duet-singing contest while Daanbantayan stood out in belly dancing. Balamban also prevailed in the on-the-spot canvass painting category.
Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Roldan Saragena said Nacario and the rest of the contest winners will compete in the regional level this week in Dumaguete City.
The aim of the activity is to strengthen farm families as members of the rural based organization who plays a significant role towards the success of every government projects and programs. It also bolsters the partnership among all stakeholders towards achieving the province-wide goal — sustainability and progress.
Other participants included the contingents from Oslob, Santander, Argao, Consolacion, Danao City, Catmon, Barili, Tabuelan, Borbon and Carcar City.
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