Ilocos Norte is partnering with Australia’s Griffith University for a five-year USD3.5 million worth of project meant to improve productivity and sustainability of rice and garlic-based cropping systems in the Philippines through soil health management.

Arnold Pascua, senior agriculturist of the provincial government, told the Philippine News Agency Monday that Ilocos Norte is one of the pilot provinces in the country where research trials will be conducted.

The others are Tarlac, Bataan and Agusan Del Sur.

“The field trials will be more or less two to three years depending on the result of data gathering. Whatever the result for our agro ecosystem and our type of soil will be beneficial to our farmers. Other technologies to be generated from this research will be incorporated in the national soil health program of the national government,” he said.

Pascua said the project is being implemented in collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research, Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, Griffith University, and Provincial Agriculture Offices.

Aside from the conduct of field trials in selected towns of Pasuquin and San Nicolas in Ilocos Note, the project will also include capacity building, demonstration farms, and farmer’s survey.

Due to the series of typhoons that visited the Philippines recently, the scheduled launching of the project has been set to early January next year.

The project aims to develop a soil information system that will improve the productivity, sustainability, and resilience of key cropping systems through improved soil health management.

It will also support farmers and various stakeholders in managing soil for sustainable agricultural production. (PNA)