Government deploys more mobile soil laboratories

To aid farmers

MANILA, Philippines — The government has expanded the deployment of mobile soil testing laboratories across the country to help local farmers improve crop yields and cut production costs through better soil management.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said its Bureau of Soils and Water Management has now established these mobile soil testing units across all 17 regional field offices as part of efforts to make scientific analysis of soil quality more accessible to farmers.

“The DA is offering these services free of charge to farmers growing rice, corn, high-value crops, vegetables and root crops,” DA officer-in-charge and Undersecretary Roger Navarro said.

“This is a valuable tool to help boost yields while minimizing the impact on soil health,” he added.

The agriculture official said the program aims to guide farmers in choosing the right seeds, fertilizers and other inputs suited to their land conditions.

He urged farmers to use the mobile labs to make informed decisions that could help them boost production and reduce expenses.

Each mobile laboratory, valued at around P42 million, can perform advanced analysis of up to 44 parameters, including soil chemical and physical properties as well as microbiological and water composition.

The units are part of the National Soil Health Program, which aims to strengthen data-driven decision-making in agriculture.

Navarro said the expansion supports President Marcos’ directive to modernize Philippine agriculture and increase the use of science-based technologies in farming.

The DA said the wider rollout comes amid concerns over rising fertilizer prices and declining soil fertility, both of which have affected farm productivity in recent years.

It said it hopes the program will help farmers maximize yields while preserving soil quality for long-term use.

The government’s renewed push for soil testing comes as the local agriculture sector shows signs of recovery.