The provincial government in Laoag, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture Regional Office 1, is conducting a massive soil fertility analysis to assess the quality and determine the growth potential of soils across Ilocos Norte.
More than 3,000 soil samples from all cities and municipalities in the province have been collected and are being studied, according to Special Projects Development Office head Edwin Cariño.
“We are currently conducting a large-scale fertility test in order for us to identify crop suitability in specific areas. It will also help our farmers in determining what kinds of fertilizers should be applied,” Cariño said.
Without the analysis, he added, the farmers can only guess what fertilizers are suitable in their areas, causing them to spend much.
“At present, most of the land areas here are acidic with only 1.9 to 2.1 percent organic matter. The normal organic matter is four to five percent. This implies that farmers should double the application of fertilizers here,” Cariño explained.
Stressing the provincial government’s support to the present administration’s efforts for agriculture sustainability, he expressed optimism that through the soil analysis, Ilocano farmers will be able to maximize crop production and minimize their expenses.
In his first State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the “conduct (of) a nationwide soil analysis to determine areas most suitable for rice farming to optimize production with the use of effective soil rehabilitation and fertilization.”
DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has ordered officials to update their soil analysis data in preparation for the effects of climate change in the country.
