President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made renewed commitment to boost agricultural productivity in the country as he led the site inspection Friday of the P550-million Soil Laboratory Building currently under construction in Agusan del Sur.
“I am also extremely pleased with the establishment of the Agusan Del Sur Provincial Soils Laboratory by the provincial government of Agusan del Sur, the first and the modern one of its kind in Mindanao,” President Marcos said during the distribution of e-Titles and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) and Ceremonial Turnover of Certificates of Awards for Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) and Farm Machineries and Equipment (FMEs) in the province.
“Ilan lang yan sa mga maraming programang para sa ating mga magsasaka dito sa inyong probinsya upang mapataas ang kanilang ani at mapalaki ang kanilang kita,” he said.
Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. and Executive Adviser and Scientist Dr. Johnvie Goloran briefed the President on the soil laboratory building project located in Prosperidad town aimed at bolstering the agricultural productivity of farmers in the province.
To be managed by the provincial government, the facility is capable of physical, chemical, and biological characterization of soils using a range of advanced analytical capabilities and can analyze 50-100 soil samples a day, with test results released in less than two to three days.
The soil testing facility can also analyze soils, plants, water, fertilizer, and gas samples.
Providing sufficient and accurate soil information to farmers, the soils laboratory will enable them to choose the crops suitable for their farmlands and the type and rate of fertilizer that should be used for their crops for optimum plant growth and development, resulting in better productivity and income.
The Provincial Soils Laboratory is expected to be completed next year with soil chemists, soil microbiologists, and agronomists working as the facility’s lead personnel.
The project is being spearheaded through Australia-Philippines collaboration that focuses on a national soil health strategy that seeks to enhance agricultural production in the country.
Following the site inspection, President Marcos, together with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., handed over to five farmer- representatives 1,200 bags of certified palay seeds for the areas affected by the recent flooding in the province. PND
