DA Expands Mobile Soil Labs Nationwide to Empower Farmers and Boost Agricultural Yields

AGRI-NEWS | Farming Posted on 2025-10-12 21:49:46

MANILA – In a major step toward modernizing Philippine agriculture, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified the deployment of its Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSL) across the country to help farmers improve yields, cut production costs, and protect long-term soil health.

DA Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro urged farmers to maximize the use of the MSL services, emphasizing that soil testing enables science-based decisions on seed selection, fertilizer use, and land management.

“Through these mobile labs, we are giving farmers access to advanced, on-site soil analysis that allows them to produce more while spending less,” Navarro said. “This is a vital step in strengthening food security and promoting sustainable agriculture.”

Each ₱42-million MSL unit can analyze up to 44 parameters covering soil’s chemical, physical, microbiological, and water properties. The initiative, under the National Soil Health Program, provides free services to rice, corn, vegetable, root crop, and high-value crop farmers nationwide.

All 17 DA Regional Field Offices now have their own mobile lab, fulfilling President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to deliver science-based and technology-driven services directly to farmers in rural areas.

The pilot deployment in Tarlac earlier this year proved the system’s potential—analyzing 543 soil samples, generating 346 fertilizer recommendations for 25 high-value crops, and training 584 farmers and local stakeholders in sustainable fertilizer and soil management. Within seven weeks, the project also produced Soil Health and Fertility Maps, Monitoring Reports, and personalized Soil Health Cards for participating farmers.

Soil testing, the DA stressed, is not just about sustainability—it’s about profitability. By regularly assessing soil conditions, farmers can reduce unnecessary fertilizer costs, enhance yields and quality, and minimize the risks of drought or nutrient imbalances.

Through this investment in soil health, the DA aims to empower farmers with data-driven tools that lead to higher productivity, improved resilience, and a more sustainable agricultural future for the Philippines.

NPO News Team | PR- DA–OSEC Communications

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