The Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified its soil testing program in Eastern Visayas to expand the understanding of soil health and provide accurate recommendations to farmers in the region.

The DA regional office said in a news release Tuesday that with the deployment of the mobile soils laboratory (MSL), the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) conducted hands-on training to enhance the knowledge and skills of technical personnel in soil testing and analysis.

“This initiative supports the continuous improvement of local technical expertise and ensures that the mobile laboratories can deliver fast, reliable and science-based soil health assessments to farming communities across the country,” the DA said.

The BWSM launched the first-ever MSL in Eastern Visayas on Sept. 3 as part of a nationwide program to provide on-site soil testing and real-time results directly to farmers.

“The project’s goal is to help farmers make more informed decisions, leading to healthier soil and increased crop yields. This marks a significant advancement for science-based, sustainable agriculture in Eastern Visayas,” the DA said.

Before the mobile laboratory deployment, experts from the DA regional office conducted a training on the proper use of the soil test kit (STK) for farmers across Leyte province.

The STK is a simple, low-cost and portable kit that farmers can use to quickly identify macro- and micronutrient deficiencies in the soil that may limit its productive qualities for rice and other crops.

The kit also helps recommend the proper type and amount of fertilizer for a specific land area.

Eastern Visayas is predominantly an agricultural region in terms of land area. Forty-five percent, or 976,415 hectares, of its total land area is devoted to agricultural production.

Despite these resources, growth in the farming sector has been sluggish over the years, as shown by its declining share in the regional economy, according to the DA. (PNA)