Agusan Sur’s soil laboratory PBBM’s accomplishment on food sustainability
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) —“We will prioritize the modernization of our farms through the use of advanced technologies for our farmers. All of this will be guided by science to increase agricultural production,” said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. during his inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25, 2022.
Pres. Marcos Jr. challenged the key agencies in the
farming sector and local government units to find solutions to the country’s
food security.
“Today, that challenge is no longer just an idea—we
are now realizing that vision. Our efforts are focused on helping our farmers,
especially since our province is known for its vast agricultural land. Without
food, we are nothing,” said Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago B. Cane Jr.
to Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director-General Katherine Chloe S. De
Castro during the courtesy visit and tour at the Provincial Research,
Development, and Innovation Office (PRDIO) in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del
Sur on July 21.
“PBBM’s call to action inspired Agusan del
Sur in building the sole state-of-the-art soil laboratory in the province and
in the country as part of their goal of agricultural modernization,” the
governor added.
He shared that the modern soil laboratory in
Agusan del Sur is administered by the province’s newest department, PRDIO
headed by Dr. Trishah Fe R. Goloran. Its construction is spearheaded by 2nd
district Congressional Representative Adolph Edward “Eddiebong” Plaza, with
strong support from 1st District Rep. Alfelito “Alfel” Bascug, Gov. Cane, and
other local government officials.
With a total project cost of P550 million, the
facility is designed to promote a scientific and data-driven approach to
agriculture, supporting the backbone of the nation — the Filipino farmers. The
laboratory allows farmers to analyze soil conditions, identify the appropriate
fertilizers, and select the most suitable crops to plant, ensuring that the
right food grows in the right soil.
As part of the first phase of PRDIO’s
implementation, the province has begun empowering farmers through soil
management training programs conducted at the municipal level. These activities
are aimed at promoting sustainable farming practices by enhancing farmers’
knowledge of soil care, fertility, and proper agricultural techniques.
Cane compared the soil to the human body,
emphasizing that, just like the body requires accurate diagnosis and proper
nutrients to heal from the hospital, soil must also be tested and treated accordingly
in the soil laboratory.
“Not all nutrients are good for the body—likewise,
soil needs the right balance of nutrients to yield good produce. That’s where
the soil laboratory becomes essential,” he said.
DG De Castro, on the other hand, assured the governor of the continued support and collaboration of PIA through communication support across the province, ensuring that the modern facility and its advantages will reach the target beneficiaries, and the good news will be disseminated to the public and the grassroots communities. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur)
