A map is essential in planning for agricultural development.
Thus, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol directed the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) to conduct a nationwide soil mapping for soil fertility and suitability.
In Caraga Region, BSWM has already come-up with soul suitability map for rice in five provinces and initially includes other commodities.
Senior Agriculturist Efren Fabula of BSWM and Soil and Water Area coordinator Marcelo Dayo presented to DA Caraga Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo the result of soil mapping for the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) recently.
The map which was eventually turned-over to PDI contains soil suitability on ten various commodities such as coconut, fruit trees, banana, coffee, cacao, pineapple, root crops, corn, vegetables, and rice.
Monteagudo lauded BSWM for coming up with the map as it is a great help for the LGU development planners and farmers as well.
“We owe BSWM for this very valuable document since it could serve as a basis to ascertain what are the interventions needed in a particular area to develop agriculture,” he said.
Through the map, farmers would know what particular commodity is suitable in their specific area and the needs for fertilization.
“I hope that the respective LGU will maximize the use of the said map as it is so important especially in guiding the farmers,” the director said.
Farmers can access the said map through their respective LGU and or through BSWM website.
Under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, ten basic foundations of sound agriculture and fisheries programs were identified wherein a national color-coded agricultural guide map is on top of the list.
Other priorities include national food consumption quantification study; institutional restructuring and paradigm resetting for the Department of Agriculture and its officials and employees; intensive technology updating and sharing, modernization and mechanization program; and easy access financing program for farmers, fishermen and agriculture and fisheries stakeholders, or known as production loan easy access (PLEA).
DA also implements strategic and effective post-harvest, storage and processing facility; government-initiated and supported aggressive marketing campaign especially for high-value crop; national livestock, dairy and poultry program; relentless campaign for the enforcement of agricultural and fisheries laws, especially on land conversion and illegal fishing; and re-introduction of basic agriculture in the primary and elementary grades of the Philippine schools system. (Aurel Arais/DA-Caraga)
