Ilocos Sur to undertake P100-M soil fertility program developed by ICRISAT

ANDHRA PRADESH, India – The local government of Ilocos Sur is investing P100 million within the next three years to implement a soil fertility program developed by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in this Indian state.

ICRISAT director general William Dar told visiting reporters that a memorandum of agreement will be signed between ICRISAT and the provincial government of Ilocos Sur on Oct. 1 for the implementation of the Bhoochetana soil rejuvenation program on 42,000 hectares of agricultural lands in the province. 

Under the agreement, ICRISAT will provide all the technological  assistance while  Ilocos Sur  will shoulder all expenses for the implementation.  Sub-programs of the Philippine Department of Agriculture-National Rice Program and the High Value Crops Development Program – are also expected to contribute funding for the Bhoochetana project.

Ilocos Sur, with its semi-arid climate, is known for growing high value crops such as tobacco, garlic, onion, eggplant, as well as corn and mungbean. The province also grows vegetables.

Ground breaking for the project is seen to commence in December.

Dar said agricultural scientists from Ilocos Sur have already undergone training with the ICRISAT.

Bhoochetana entails a comprehensive soil-mapping based on type and micronutrient content crucial to increasing crop yield and quality. These nutrients include zinc sulphate, gypsum, borax, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur.

Nutrients are introduced in deficient areas in the form of fertilizers, thus rejuvenating the soil.

ICRISAT  first implemented the program in the Indian state of Karnataka sometime in 2009, resulting  to a 20 percent increase in yield rates.

The provinces of Quezon, Samar and Zamboanga  have also expressed interest in implementing the Bhoochetana scheme in their farmlands.

A delegation from the provinces will visit ICRISAT in October to train on the implementation of the Bhoochetana system.

“They will immerse in Karnataka and finalize the work plan,” said Dar.

Also in the works are plans to develop a rainfed farming system in the municipalies of Cabugao, Sta Maria and San Emilio in Ilocos Sur.

To be raised in these areas are the usual crops grown in the province as well ICRISAT mandate crops suitable to Philippine settings such as sweet sorghum,  pigeonpea, and  ground nut.

“There will be other opportunities of promoting newer crops in areas where these crops are not grown during the dry season,” said Dar.

He said ICRISAT is also discussing with Ilocos Sur the possibility of building a soils laboratory in the province similar to the one being maintained by the institution. Each soils laboratory is seen to cost P10 million.

“We have already proposed a separate project for the establishment of a soils laboratory,” he said.

Dar said ICRISAT is also engaging the Ilocos Sur government for the development of community watershed systems.

“Here, we are studying the transformation of the whole village as a watershed system. In the Philippines, it is not a community approach,” he said.

He said that with these developments, the province can be gradually transformed into a science hub for agriculture.

“The vision is for Ilocos Sur to be turned into a science province,” he said.

The Philippines is a donor country to ICRISAT, contributing $50,000 annually through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) upon the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture.

The international research institute is currently engaged in several activities in the Philippines for the development of agriculture in dry areas in the Philippines as well as coping mechanisms for climate change.