By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur — Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza of Agusan del Sur 2nd District on Tuesday warned that the country is facing a worsening “soil health crisis” that threatens food production and farmer livelihoods.
He urged agricultural agencies to ground their policies in science, saying outdated tools and one-size-fits-all programs have eroded soil quality and undermined farm productivity.
Speaking at the opening of the three-day Stakeholders Forum on Soil Testing Protocols and Information Systems at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Covered Court here, Plaza said meaningful agricultural reform must begin with “listening to science,” not political convenience or tradition.
“This is not about politics or bureaucratic optics,” he said. “We must accept that only science can make our policies coherent, responsive, and strategic to national development.”
Plaza, who served 15 years as governor before entering Congress, recalled how early briefings from soil experts in 2022 exposed him to the gravity of the damage caused by decades of “wanton reliance on synthetic fertilizers” and fragmented government interventions.
He described himself as a learner among scientists from state universities, government agencies, and international partners including Griffith University and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
He said the brunt of the crisis falls on farmers who endure low harvests, shrinking incomes, rising costs, and fewer opportunities for their children. “With low harvest comes desperation. With low yield, the children of our farmers lose their fair share of life’s battle,” Plaza said.
The lawmaker also questioned the continued reliance on shortcut diagnostic tools such as the Soil Test Kit, which he acknowledged has value but is not sensitive or precise enough for modern farm planning. “It gives us a rough sense of direction, but not the precise map,” he said.
Plaza stressed that soil conditions vary widely across the country, making local diagnostics essential. “The soils of Agusan are not the soils of Bataan, Ilocos Norte, or Australia,” he said. “Policies must reflect the reality of each locality.”
He pushed for a modern soil information system that integrates accurate laboratory data with the practical knowledge of farmers. “We must bridge measurable scientific data with the lived experience of the people who work with the soil every day,” he said.
Plaza also called for stronger collaboration among agencies, universities, and development partners, noting that soil health intersects with water management, land use, forestry, and erosion. “This is not a single-agency mandate,” he emphasized.
He invited scientists to treat Agusan del Sur as a “living laboratory” for soil research that directly improves farmer productivity and well-being. “More than scientific evolution, this must lead to agricultural transformation,” he said.
Addressing farmers, Plaza said every peso spent on soil programs must translate to “better yields, lower production costs, healthier soils, and renewed pride in the land you cultivate.”
Plaza also called for stronger collaboration among agencies, universities, and development partners, noting that soil health intersects with water management, land use, forestry, and erosion. “This is not a single-agency mandate,” he emphasized.
He invited scientists to treat Agusan del Sur as a “living laboratory” for soil research that directly improves farmer productivity and well-being. “More than scientific evolution, this must lead to agricultural transformation,” he said.
Addressing farmers, Plaza said every peso spent on soil programs must translate to “better yields, lower production costs, healthier soils, and renewed pride in the land you cultivate.”
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