By : CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur – Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza of the 2nd District of Agusan del Sur has once again underscored the critical importance of soil health development initiatives, urging his fellow lawmakers to support efforts that will help increase agricultural yields for farmers grappling with the impacts of climate change.
Plaza made this appeal during his privilege speech on Wednesday in Congress, emphasizing that restoring the health of Agusan del Sur’s soils is essential for securing the future of its farmers and the nation’s agricultural prosperity.
He highlighted the role of innovative soil-test-based fertilization and sustainable farming practices in providing farmers with the tools to maintain healthy soils, boost crop yields, and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate.
“A comprehensive, science-based, and collaborative national soil health strategy can rehabilitate our soils, reverse degradation, and improve the productivity of our farmers,” Plaza stated in his speech.
To support his argument, the Agusan del Sur lawmaker presented data from five model rice fields in the province, which showed a remarkable 263 % increase in net income, producing at least 6.6 tons per hectare, up from an average of 3.6 tons per hectare. Additionally, fertilization costs were reduced by as much as 45%.
The 6.6 tons yield even surpassed the average production of 4 tons per hectare of the rice farmers in the country.
Plaza emphasized the urgent need to mitigate the inevitable impact of climate change on agriculture by ensuring a healthy ecosystem, pointing out that 70% of the country’s farmlands are now affected by acidity.
“To mitigate climate change, we need to safeguard a healthy ecosystem. Soils rich in organic matter support plant growth, filter water, and sequester carbon,” Plaza noted. “As our soils are increasingly threatened, we must act swiftly to protect them.”
“The clock is ticking. Soil degradation not only undermines agricultural productivity but also threatens the livelihoods of our smallholder farmers,” Plaza stressed.
He highlighted that the provincial government of Agusan del Sur has honored its commitment to advancing soil health development by establishing a P400-million, state-of-the-art Soils Research Laboratory, staffed by experts from the Provincial Research Development and Innovation Office.
The soils lab is the latest initiative under the provincial government’s flagship program, the Upland Sustainable Agriforestry Development (USAD), which has already begun transforming the lives of farmers, particularly the Lumads, living in the remote hinterlands of Agusan del Sur.
The speech garnered support from two colleagues during the interpellation.
Rep. Jane Castro of the 2nd District of Capiz emphasized that soil health development should now be incorporated into the national government’s priorities, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA). She also raised concerns about the DA’s soil testing program under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.
In response, Plaza pointed out that the Rapid Soil Test Kit (RST) used by the DA’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management only tests for three elements, which does not provide a comprehensive analysis of soils lacking essential nutrients. In contrast, the Soils Lab offers testing for at least 16 chemical elements.
Plaza also criticized the “shotgun approach” employed by the DA and some multinational fertilizer companies, which provide inputs to farmers without following a scientific process.
In answering a query from Rep. Roger Mercado, 1st District of Southern Leyte, Plaza likened soil to the human body, saying both need to be tested in a laboratory to assess nutrient levels before experts can offer tailored solutions. “Soil is life, just like humans are life. What’s happening now is a shotgun approach,” Plaza remarked.
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