Senator Kiko Pangilinan underscored the importance of establishing a national soil testing program as a cornerstone strategy to address the country’s ongoing rice crisis and ensure long-term food security.
In light of rising rice prices, reduced farm productivity, and increasing pressure on domestic supply, Pangilinan said that scientific, data-driven interventions in increasing crop yields are urgently needed.
“Pagka maganda ang soil health, yung ani natin ng palay, ay from about four tons per average, kayang umabot ng six tons per hectare.”
“A good example, dahil nabanggit mo, right now ang rice sufficiency natin ay 77%, so yung 23% ini-import. Bakit? Kasi kulang ang supply. Pagka maganda ang soil health, yung ani natin ng palay, ay from about four tons per average, kayang umabot ng six tons per hectare,” the veteran legislator said in an ambush media interview in Agusan del Sur.
“Ibig sabihin halos more than 30% increase. Eh 23% ang ating kulang na bigas. Eh ‘di kung ma-increase natin ng halos 30% ang yield natin, mababawasan talaga nang husto yung problema natin sa pag-import. So, better yields because of proper soil health and soil management,” the seasoned lawmaker explained.
“Widespread soil degradation is a key factor behind declining yields.”
The chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform also pointed out that widespread soil degradation—largely unaddressed in many agricultural regions—is a key factor behind declining yields.
The senator was in Agusan del Sur recently to deliver a keynote address at the World Soil Day Forum at the Gov. D.O. Plaza, Govt Center in Prosperidad.
He lauded Agusan del Sur 2nd District Representative Eddiebong Plaza for the initiative to bring soil testing and information systems in the country, and pointed out that it is high time to expand the program to more provinces.
“Napakahalaga nitong inisyatiba ni Congressman Eddiebong Plaza tungkol sa usapin ng soil health, stratehiya sa soil management, sa usapin ng agriculture,” Pangilinan said.
“At bilang inyong Senate committee agriculture chairperson, minabuti kong bumiyahe rito sa araw na ito para makiisa at para malaman ano pa ang pwede nating gawin sa Senado para matulungan ang ating sektor ng agrikultura sa usapin ng soil management,” he added.
Pangilinan expressed hope that more provinces will begin their own soil testing programs in the next two years, noting the “opportune time” to do so because agriculture is a top agenda item of the current administration.
