Agusan Sur farmers bolster agriculture through science and technology
By Niña Jonalyn Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Farmers across the province of Agusan del Sur are now reaping the benefits of science and technology in agriculture, following a comprehensive capacity-building program led by the Provincial Research Development and Innovation Office (PRDIO).
To accommodate farmers from the different municipalities of the province, the training was conducted in batches with the first ones scheduled from July to late August this year, equipping Agsurnon farmers with practical skills in soil analysis to improve crop productivity and strengthen their livelihoods. Once they are trained, they will have the benefit to avail of the free soil testing—a great advantage to the agricultural workers of the province given the expensive cost of soil testing especially since besides Agusan del Sur, the said service is only available outside of the country such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia, to name a few.
For more than 40 years, James Dela Cruz, one of the farmers in the province, shared his own struggling seasons as a farmer—there are times when he would gain very minimal profit from his produce, at times—just breakeven, but there are also instances when he went home disheartened—as the operational expenses he incurred exceeded the earnings from his harvest.
“It’s been really hard for us farmers who merely rely on the uncertainty of our crop’s yield. We just hope and pray for a better season each and every time we toil our lands—without any knowledge about the science behind the soil we have been working with,” said Dela Cruz.
“We had no idea that there is such a thing as a compatibility between our crops and the type of soil where we plant them—and also the type of fertilizers and the kind of care needed for a more productive harvest,” he added.
The program featured a step-by-step orientation on soil sampling techniques and introduced the participants to the Biogeochemistry Laboratory Information Management System (BLIMS), a digital tool used to interpret soil data.
Technical concepts were simplified to ensure that farmers could easily apply the knowledge to their own fields, enabling them to make informed decisions on fertilizer use, crop selection, and land management.
This training builds on the earlier inauguration of the province’s state-of-the-art soil research laboratory, which now serves as the backbone of Agusan del Sur’s science-based agricultural initiatives. While the laboratory was inaugurated prior to the training, its full potential is now being realized through the active involvement of farmers in data-driven farming practices.
Local government officials emphasized that this initiative marks a significant shift toward modern, resilient agriculture in the province.
“Agusan del Sur has conducted evidence-based studies and will continue to adopt science-oriented agricultural practices along with Governor Santiago Cane Jr. and Congressional Representative Alfred Bascug,” shared Eddiebong Plaza, 2nd district congressional representative of Agusan del Sur during a session at the House of Representatives (HOR).
By integrating research and technology into grassroots farming, Agusan del Sur is empowering its farmers to thrive in a changing climate and competitive market—ushering in a new era of innovation and sustainability. (NJGD/PIA Caraga with a report from PTV Agusan del Sur)
