Agusan solon pushes science-based soil testing to cut farm costs

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Likening soil testing to a diagnostic blood test before prescribing medicine, Agusan del Sur 2nd District Rep. Adolph Edward Plaza has urged national agencies and local governments to abandon agricultural guesswork and base farm support on scientific soil data.

In a video statement released Saturday from his address to the Society for the Advancement of Philippine Soil Science Inc., Plaza warned that decades of farm programs have poured funds into seeds, fertilizer, machinery, and roads while overlooking the most critical asset: the ground beneath

“A doctor does not prescribe medicine without first understanding the condition of the patient,” said Plaza, who serves as vice chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food. “Agriculture should be the same. Before telling a farmer how much fertilizer to apply or what crop to plant, we should first understand the actual condition of the soil. Test first, understand the soil, then prescribe.”

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Agusan Marsh joins global migratory bird network

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

Plaza warned that blanket fertilizer recommendations drain farmers’ resources at a time when commercial farm inputs remain expensive.

“Every unnecessary application is money lost by the farmer,” he pointed out, advocating for a shift toward site-specific, data-driven farming.

In Agusan del Sur, soil health has been integrated as the centerpiece of the provincial agricultural roadmap. The province established its own Provincial Research, Development, and Innovation Office alongside a state-of-the-art soils laboratory.

The objective, Plaza noted, is not merely running high-tech diagnostic equipment, but translating laboratory findings into practical guidelines that smallholders can easily execute on their farms—from determining optimal crop suitability to precise nutrient dosing.

Article continues after this advertisement

Initial trials under the province’s science-driven programs have recorded up to a 50-percent increase in crop yield and a 25-percent reduction in fertilizer expenses over four cropping cycles.

The province’s soil initiatives have attracted partnerships with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Article continues after this advertisement

These agencies have selected Agusan del Sur to pilot various research projects, including rubber-based cropping systems and cost-effective fertilization protocols for rice.

Plaza called on other agricultural provinces to mirror the initiative by investing in localized laboratory capacity, partnering with state universities and colleges (SUCs), and training field technicians who can bring soil science directly to farming communities.

He also commended soil scientists Prof. Vic Asio and Prof. Ian Navarrete, urging researchers to step outside academic institutions and work directly alongside LGUs, extension workers, and farmers.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

“What we are doing in Agusan del Sur should not remain exclusive to our province,” Plaza said. “If the model works, let us study it, improve it, and replicate it. Ultimately, the value of soil science will be measured by what happens on the farm—whether our farmers can produce more, spend less, protect their land, and keep it productive for the next generation.” INQ