AN expert revealed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. must focus on soil analysis – a key to achieving food sufficiency in the country.
Friday noon, SMNI News visited a rubber plantation in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur, accompanied by soil experts.
According to the experts we were with, the plantation’s success is attributed to the use of soil science, particularly soil analysis conducted before the cropping season.
According to Soil Scientist Johnvie Goloran, the soil analysis results revealed that the land in Agusan del Sur is rich in aluminum.
Rubber trees are among the plants that can thrive in these areas.
“Soil testing is very important because when you start planting, the next important thing is the nourishment of the plants. The fertilizer that we need, right? The question now is, what is your basis? Why are you feeding your plants with something if you don’t know what’s in the soil?” Dr. Johnvie Goloran, Soil Scientist said.
Through soil analysis, farmers now know the appropriate type and amount of fertilizer to apply to their crops.
As a result, crop yields increase, and farmers’ incomes improve.
The rubber plantation we visited serves as a significant example.
“We have proven in our experiments that we need to supplement the rubber tree with fertilizer as it grows while we tap and harvest latex to sustain its lifespan and significantly increase our income,” Dr. Adeflor Garcia, Soil Science Professor said
Because of soil analysis, they were able to provide the appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the rubber plantation, resulting in high yields.
President Marcos aims for the country to achieve food sufficiency.
If this goal is attained, the government will no longer heavily rely on imports from other countries.
To make this happen, experts suggest that the government should go back to basics and base their planting decisions on soil science, utilizing soil testing.
“How will your farmlands support the nutritional requirements of diverse cropping systems? The answer is soil testing. Through soil testing, we can see what’s needed. We already know the nutritional requirements of our crops, but the soil is very dynamic,” Goloran added.
Currently, the cost for soil analysis of a cropping area ranges from P14,000 to P15,000, depending on the desired data to be obtained by the farmers.
According to Dr. Goloran, assistance from the national government is needed to conduct soil testing for every plantation.
This is something that can be collaborated by the government under the Marcos administration.
“Maybe in people’s perception, it’s just dirt. No! The soil is alive, and we need to take care of it. If we realize that the soil is alive, then it needs intensive care,” he added.
