Soil scientist backs update on national soil data

MANILA, Philippines – A soil scientist supported the call of Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol to conduct soil testing and sampling nationwide to determine the best crops to grow in any part of the country.

Ian Navarrete, one of the 2016 Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) awardees of the National Academy of Science & Technology (NAST), said this initiative could take at least six months or a maximum of one year.

“You have to do it in such a way that the data you will get will really be useful for the country’s farmers and policymakers” Navarrete told The Star on the sidelines of the closing ceremonies of the 38th Annual Scientific Meeting of the NAST held recently  at the Manila Hotel.

Navarrete, a recipient of the world-renowned and highly competitive Humboldt Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany, likewise noted the lack of updated soil analysis data in the country.

He said some data were based on samplings done way back in 1934 on Batangas soil.

Pinol has given the Department of Agriculture 45 days to complete the soil mapping analysis and to come up with a color-coded agricultural guide map to show which suitable crop can be grown in  any part of the country based on geographic, climatic and soil type conditions. 

“This is critical in determining what kind of soil nutrients or fertilizer should be applied to specific areas thus ensuring productivity,” Pinol earlier said.

“Success in agriculture is all about correct data, right strategy and immediate action. While I have promised them all the funding support, the DA needs to accomplish the task. I also made it clear that if they fail, they will be asked to leave the government. That is how it is in the Duterte Presidency: Produce results or leave government to others who could do better,” he said.